Duminda granted bail; passport impounded until probe completed

Thursday, 2 April 2015 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

United People’s Free-dom Alliance (UPFA) Parlia-mentarian Duminda Silva and 10 others were released on strict bail conditions yesterday when Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s murder case was taken up by Court.

Silva and the other 10 suspects accused of the murder were granted bail but were prohibited from leaving the country as investigations were still underway. Their passports have all been impounded. After the release Duminda Silva, addressing the media outside the courtroom, said that he was thankful to the “good governance regime” for providing him with the opportunity to absolve himself of allegations of murder. “The good governance regime is going on the right path and I am thankful to them for indicting me before the high court in order to clear my name. I know I am innocent and I have done nothing wrong. Therefore I have nothing to worry,” he said. Meanwhile, Premachandra’s daughter, UPFA Western Provincial Councillor Hirunika Premachandra, who has been fighting for justice ever since the murder of her father, told reporters outside court that she was confident that the perpetrators of the crime would face justice under the new Government. “This is the era of good governance and justice will prevail,” she said. The Attorney General filed an indictment against the 11 suspects in the High Court on 3 March citing 17 charges relating to the murder of Premachandra, Dharshana Jayathilake, Mohamed Azmy and Manimel Kumaraswamy, the gunshot wounds suffered by Premachandra’s bodyguard Rajapurage Gamini and unlawful assembly.