Date: 13/03/2024
Case number: HC(TAB) 2972/21
Brief update:
The subject case was taken up before the Trial at Bar for the evidence of the 60th witness (witness no. 2198), 61st witness (witness no:1279), and 62nd witness (witness no:2200). Witnesses no. 1278 was also present before the court.
The 23rd accused was not present before the court, as he was taking treatments at the prison hospital. The lawyer for the 23rd accused was present before the court. The Prison Superintendent has sent a letter informing that the 23rd accused will be referred to the JMO on 14/3/2024.
The witness No. 1278 was present before the court, he arrived in the country on 12/3/2024. The court released the him temporarily.
The witness No. 2198 is a person who has made seat reservations for passengers travelling from Colombo to Batticaloa and Akkaraipattu. The relevant documents were shown to him and marked through this witness. The witness identified that he had received three phone calls in the nigh of 20/04/2019 from the person who committed the bomb blast in Zion Church, Batticaloa on Easter Sunday. His evidence-in-chief was concluded. The witness was cross-examined by the Lawyer appeared for the 13th accused.
The witness No. 1279 is a bus conductor who was on duty on a bus with registration number ND 5811, travelling from Kalmunai to Colombo. The bus he was working used to take passengers from Maradana. The witness was shown a few CCTV footage that was already marked and he recognized the person who committed the bomb blast in Zion Church, Batticaloa. Further, an already marked map was shown to the witness and he recognized the location where the bomber had left the bus on that day. His evidence-in-chief was concluded. The lawyers for the accused informed the court that they did not intend to cross-examine the witness.
The witness No. 2200 has been working in Taj Samudra, Colombo as a Receptionist Executive since 2014. The relevant CCTV footages were shown to the witness and marked. The evidence in chief of the witness was concluded. The lawyers for the accused informed the court that they did not intend to cross-examine the witness.
State Counsel informed the court that they intend to amend the witnesses list because the ‘Counter Terrorism Investigation Division’ has informed them that the witness no. 1338 has gone abroad. The State Counsel requested to substitute the manager of the relevant institution for witness No. 1338 and requested to issue summons to the above witness in future. The court has granted permission in this regard.
The court issued summons on witness No. 2220 to be present before the court on the 14th.
Next dates: The case will be taken up on the 14th of March 2024 at 1.00 p.m. for further trial.
