Lawyer wants President, ex-CJ summoned - Mohamed Shiyam murder case

By Ishara Rathnakara-2015-07-03

Lawyers appearing for the fourth accused in the Mohamed Shiyam murder case yesterday (2) requested the Colombo High Court to summon nine witnesses including President Maithripala Sirisena and Former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake to give evidence.

Mohamed Shiyam was a businessman from Bambalapitiya, who was allegedly killed by Former DIG Vaas Gunawardena.
Lawyer Jaliya Samarasinghe made this request from a three-Judge Bench yesterday. The cross examination of the case is over. The Court informed the defence to call those who are willing to give evidence on behalf of the defendants.
Accordingly, Samarasinghe the lawyer for the fourth accused, Police Constable   Ananda Pathirage Priyantha Sanjeewa submitted to Court a list of witnesses he wished to summon. The list is as follows:
The accused Ananda Pathirage
SSP Palitha Panamaldeniya – police headquarters
SSP Priyantha Sanjeewa – police headquarters
Registrar – Colombo High Court
Registrar – Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court
President Maithripala Sirisena
Secretary to the President – Presidential Secretariat
Registrar – Supreme Court
Former Chief Justice
Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake
Attorney Samarasinghe while submitting the list requested the Court to issue summons on the nine witnesses to give evidence on the dates to be announced by Court.
The case is being heard before a special panel of three judges comprising Lalith Jayasuriya (chairman), Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena and Amendra Senaratne.
The case was postponed until the 8 July.