198th Day of the Main Easter Attack Trial – HC (TAB) 2972/21
Date: 02nd June 2026|
Venue: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar), 2nd Floor, MCC Building, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
PW-2230, Mr. Ranganath Thilakarathna, testified via an online video link from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Melbourne, Australia. The witness stated that he was the Director of Panda Multi Sports Arena, Malwana, which comprised a conference room, badminton courts, a swimming pool, and a gymnasium.
The witness testified that he came to know a person named Hussain, who regularly visited the premises, and subsequently came to know Sasni, a relative of Hussain. According to the witness, Sasni had made a reservation for the conference room in 2017 and had also participated in the event held on that occasion. Although the witness could not specifically identify all attendees or describe the activities that took place inside the conference room, he recalled that Sri Lankan Muslim guests were present.
The prosecution produced material originating from Colombo Magistrate’s Court Case No. B/15775/08/19, marked as PR No. 82/2019. The witness identified the document as the CR Book maintained by Panda Multi Sports Arena to record reservations and outside events conducted at the premises. The book was marked as P-812.
Thereafter, pages 24 and 25 of the said CR Book were marked as P-812(A). The relevant entry recorded a reservation of the conference room on 17 December 2017 from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. The prosecution relied on this entry in support of its case concerning an alleged extremist lecture said to have been conducted by Saharan at the venue.
No cross-examination was conducted on behalf of any of the accused, and the witness was accordingly discharged.
Thereafter, certain corrections were made in relation to the record of the voir dire inquiry of the 1st Accused. Upon completion of those corrections, Court extended the date for filing written submissions relating to the voir dire inquiry of the 1st Accused until 5 June 2026. Court further fixed 17 June 2026 for the delivery of its order on the said voir dire inquiry.
Court also directed that summons be issued for the following witnesses:
• PW-710, PW-822, PW-829, and PW-830 to be present in Court on 4 June 2026.
• PW-826, PW-831, PW-838, and PW-841 to be present in Court on 5 June 2026.
With no further witness to be taken up, the proceedings for the day were concluded. The case was adjourned and fixed for further hearing on 3rd of June 2026 at 10.00 a.m.
