Case against Ranawaka:

Colombo High Court (HC) Judge Sujeewa Nissanka on Friday (25) announced in open court that the Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal filed by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, challenging the Attorney General’s decision to indict him in the High Court over the 2016 Rajagiriya accident involving a youth who sustained serious injuries.

The Supreme Court’s dismissal of Ranawaka’s appeal, which argued that the case could not proceed, had cleared the way for the continuation of the trial on charges including concealing evidence related to the incident, the HC said. The Attorney General had earlier filed indictments against Ranawaka, Assistant Superintendent of Police Sudath Asmadala, and Thushitha Didum Kumara in connection with the case.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on the night of 28 February, 2016, in Rajagiriya, where a youth named Sandeep Sampath Gunawardena was seriously injured in a road accident. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor General Dilip Peiris on behalf of the Attorney General.

The High Court set the next hearing for 18 November.

The HC also issued an interim order temporarily lifting Ranawaka’s overseas travel ban until the next hearing. The order followed a request made by President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna, appearing for Ranawaka.Jayamanne informed court that his client had been invited to attend an overseas conference and also wished to visit his daughter currently residing in Australia.

A. J. A. Abeynayake