JULAMPITIYE AMARE IDENTIFIED

Geeganage Amarasiri alias Julampitiya Amare who was remanded on charges of having attacked a JVP meeting in Katuwana killing two activists was identified by three eyewitnesses at an identification parade in the Walasmulla magistrate's Court premises, police said. The identification parade was held in the presence of Acting Magistrate and Attorney W.L Herasinghe. Four witnesses had been asked to be present at the identification parade. Later statements of five witnesses were recorded at the preliminary magisterial inquiry held by Walasmulla Magistrate Saliya Channa Abeyratne.

The CID informed court they were carrying out further investigations

The lawyers who appeared for the aggrieved party said the suspect had been involved in a number of criminal cases such as murders and rapes, and therefore, he could pose a threat to witnesses. They also said that the other suspects involved in the case were still at large.

The suspect who pleaded not guilty said he was not involved in the attack but that the JVP was attempting to implicate him on false charges. The magistrate then warned that a suspect could not make submissions in that manner and asked the suspect retain a lawyer if he needed to do so. The Magistrate also warned the suspect not to pressurise witnesses.

Magistrate Saliya Wasantha ordered the Katuwana and Tangalle police to arrest the remaining suspects and produce them in court soon. The CID informed court they were carrying out further investigations.

The suspect was further remanded till July 6. The preliminary magisterial inquiry determined, according to the autopsy conducted by Dr. C. Abeysuriya, that Edirimannage Manel and Nimantha Hesan had died in the Katuwana incident due to gunshot injuries to their chests. It was determined as a criminal incident.