188th Day of the Main Easter Attack Trial – HC (TAB) 2972/21
Date: 18th May 2026|
Venue: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar), 2nd Floor, MCC Building, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
On behalf of the 18th Accused, Kaneel Maddumage AAL, appeared before Court for the voir dire inquiry. During the proceedings, the 18th Accused testified that he was arrested on 5th May 2019 by the Kalmune Police and thereafter transferred to Ampara Police and thereafter he was detained at several locations including the Batticaloa Prison, and later the Angunakolapelessa Prison. According to his evidence, his signature had been taken on a typed Sinhala statement prepared by ASP Ratnayake and Taufiq on 17th June 2021, despite him being a Tamil-speaking person who could not properly understand Sinhala. The 18th Accused alleged that he signed the document due to threats to arrest his wife and mother. The typed document was previously temporarily marked as R1, while his G.C.E. Ordinary Level certificate was marked as 18VD3.
During cross-examination, the prosecution challenged the claim that the 18th Accused could not understand Sinhala by referring to his employment history in Anuradhapura and Colombo. The prosecution further questioned the delay in making a complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka regarding the alleged forced signature. The 18th Accused maintained that his communications with family members were monitored by police officers and therefore he was unable to disclose the matter earlier.
Thereafter, on behalf of the 18th accused, the mother of the 18th Accused, Amina Umma, was called as a witness. She testified that she lodged a complaint before the Human Rights Commission in 2023 in Batticaloa alleging that officers attached to the Terrorism Investigation Division had forcibly obtained the signature of the 18th Accused. The acknowledgement receipt issued by the Human Rights Commission confirming receipt of the complaint was marked as 18VD4. During cross-examination, the prosecution suggested that the allegation regarding the forced signature had been fabricated after discussions with the 18th Accused. The witness denied the suggestion.
Following re-examination, on behalf of the 18th accused, the defense case was closed.
Thereafter, the prosecution called additional witnesses relating to the voir dire inquiry of the 18th accused. Thereafter PW 11- Woman Police Sergeant No. 2128- Dinesha Kumari was called and she testified that she typed document R-01 at the office of ASP Ratnayake on 17th June 2021 and stated that the 18th Accused gave his statement in Sinhala language, while officer Vigneshwaran translated only certain Tamil words spoken by the Accused. During cross-examination, for the 18th accused and the 9th accused, it was revealed that the witness had made no official note regarding the alleged duty performed on that date. It was further suggested that the alleged incident had never taken place and that the time period mentioned by the witness like one hour and 40 minutes was insufficient to type the entirety of document R-01. The witness denied those suggestions.
Thereafter, PW-7,Police Constable No.91789- Vigneshwaran was called and he testified that on 14th and 17th June 2021 the 18th Accused was produced before ASP Ratnayake and that the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Section 24 of the Evidence Ordinance had been explained to him. On 17th of June 2021, the witness further stated that the 18th Accused consented to having his statement recorded in Sinhala and that the contents of the typed statement were later translated and explained to him in Tamil. During cross-examination, it was suggested that the alleged incident had never taken place and that the 18th Accused had never been produced before ASP Ratnayake on the relevant dates. The witness denied those suggestions.
At the conclusion of proceedings, the prosecution sought permission to summon the witness No. 1,2,4,5, and 6 of additional witnesses relating to the voir dire inquiry of the 18th Accused, and summons were accordingly issued.
The matter was adjourned and next date is 19th of May 2026 for further voir dire inquiry of the 18th Accused at 10.00 a.m.
