The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (Jan 31) declared that an attorney could not appear on behalf of MP Duminda Silva, who is a suspect in the murder of Baratha Lakshman Premachandra. 

Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna de Silva had stated this after examining an objection over President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya appearing for the suspect Duminda Silva in the trial.

In his decision the judge had elaborated that according to medical reports submitted Duminda Silva, who is being treated overseas, is not in a state to instruct an attorney to appear on his behalf and also that evidence suggests he has not instructed, verbally or in writing, the attorney representing him.

Therefore there is no right for an attorney to represent him at this circumstance, the Magistrate had said.

Rejecting the bail plea of one of the suspects, the Additional Magistrate Prasanna de Silva also ordered that all 13 suspects be held in remand custody till February 14.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A memorial has been opened to the memory of the 41 Central Bank employees who were killed in the 1996 LTTE bomb attack.

On the 16th anniversary of the attack, CB governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal unveiled the memorial today (Jan. 31).

At the commemorative function, a two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect for the victims of the incident.

Bank officials as well as relatives of the deceased offered floral tributes to the memorial.