Date: 21st August 2026
Case No: HC (TAB) 2972/21
Court: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar)
Venue: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar), 2nd Floor, MCC Building, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
The case was taken up before the Trial-at-Bar with all accused present, except the 17th accused, who had passed away.
The 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th to 25th accused were represented, while the others appeared in person. The defence trial continued today, and Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ruhul Huck, a witness from the witness list of the 1st accused, was called to give evidence-in-chief. He testified that he had submitted to Court the relevant Medico Legal Report (MLR), which was based on the Medico Legal Examination Form prepared by Dr. Malintha De Silva. He further testified that the 1st accused had been produced before Dr. Malintha on 12th June 2019. According to the short history recorded, the 1st accused had stated that, one week after his arrest, CID officers assaulted him on both ears. The witness further testified that the 1st accused had mentioned a hearing difficulty in his right ear. During cross-examination, the witness was asked whether the short history contained any statement that the hearing difficulty in the right ear was caused by assaults allegedly committed by CID officers. In response, the witness testified that there was no such statement in the short history. He further explained that hearing difficulties could arise due to various reasons, including age and health conditions, and that such a problem could also occur as a result of an assault. The witness was also questioned regarding the date mentioned in the MLR in relation to the alleged assault of the 1st accused, as the MLR referred to 21st June 2019, whereas it stated that the 1st accused had been produced before Dr. Malintha on 12th June 2019.
The 9th accused informed Court that he wished to add a new witness, and Rauf, as the 22nd witness. The Court permitted the 9th accused to amend the witness list accordingly.
Thereafter, witness no. 3, Nihal Jayaratne, gave evidence-in-chief. He testified that there was nothing mentioned regarding the 1st accused having been sent to Kuliyapitiya for mediation in January 2020. He further testified that, according to information received from the Katupotha Police Station, the 1st accused had two mediation matters at the Katupotha Police Station in 2018, and that both matters had been concluded in the same year.
The learned Counsel for the 2nd, 7th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 19th accused informed the Court that the 2nd, 7th, 15th and 10th accused did not wish to call any witnesses from their respective witness lists and would conclude their defence cases today. Counsel further informed Court that the 8th accused did not wish to call the 1st and 2nd witnesses listed on behalf of the 8th accused.
The Court thereafter ordered that summons be issued on the Registrar of the Land Registry, Batticaloa, to give evidence-in-chief regarding a deed of the 3rd accused.
The matter was fixed to be called again on 24th August 2026 at 10.00 a.m. for further trial.
