Duminda’s security seek bail from High Court

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Six private personal security officers and a telephone handler of MP Duminda Silva who are currently in remand for the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra yesterday sought bail from the Colombo High Court.

High Court Judge Pathman Surasena postponed the inquiry into the applications for April 19.

The seven application of the suspects namely, the telephone handler Tharindu Asanga, six private security persons Manjula Prasad Hettiarachchi, Malaka Sameera, Chaminda Saman Kumara, Vidanagamage Amila, Chandana Jagath Kumara and Suranga Premalal were supported by President Counsel Anil Silva who appeared with Dhanaraj Samarakoon before High Court Judge Pathman Surasena.

Mr. Silva supporting the application submitted that the suspects were personal body guards and the telephone handler of Duminda Silva and they had been with Duminda Silva at the time of the shoot out took place at Walpola at Mulleriyawa  following the local government election of Kolonnawa Municipal Council and Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. The counsel said that the suspects had been taken into custody for questioning over the incident and following the questioning they were remanded till this date.

The counsel pleads to grant bail to the suspects since the investigations were over and the suspects are in remand for a prolonged period of time.

The judge ordered the registrar of the High Court to notice the Attorney General and the OIC of Unit three of the CID to appear before court on 19 April to inquire the applications.