KHURAM KILLING: PROSECUTION FILES CONTEMPT CHARGES

State Counsel informed court that the prosecution in the British National Khuram Sheik murder case would file contempt charges against witness Ryan Akalanka for giving conflicting evidence from what he stated at the initial magisterial inquiry before the Tangalle Magistrate.

Despite leading evidence of the witness, Senior State Counsel Thusith Mudalige sought court permission to cross examine witness Vitharana Ryan Akalanka who was giving conflicting evidence from his initial statements made to the Tangalle Magistrate, Police and to the CID.

Thus Counsel Thusith Mudalige sought permission to cross examine the witness.

Thereafter, with permission of the court Ryan Vitharana was lengthily cross examined by Mr. Mudalige who questioned the witness over his statements made before the Tangalle Magistrate on December 29, 2011 where he had stated that the Tangalle Prade-

When cross examined by the state Counsel the witness said he came to know from a friend of his that the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana too was also among the attackers

shiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana was an associate among the gang who assaulted him at the Nature Resort in Tangalle on Christmas Eve.

At the onset of giving evidence, witness Akalanka stated that he did not know those who assaulted him. He said at the time of assault he was covering his head with both hands to evade being beaten on the head.

However he said he was assaulted with clubs and a T 56 assault rifle.

Akalanka said when he was assaulted by the gang a foreigner who was on the party floor intervened to save him from the attacker’s clutches shouting, “What are you doing?”

During that time the witness ran towards the sea and escaped from the attackers. The witness said he did not know who the attackers were.

However, when cross examined by the state Counsel the witness said he came to know from a friend of his that the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana too was also among the attackers.Akalanka also said he knew the fifth accused M. Sarath alias Sahan for over one year and he was amongst the gang that assaulted him. The witness said Sahan was the secretary to the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and Sahan did not assault him.

The accused in this case are: Lahiru Kelum, Saman Deshapriya, former Tangalle PS Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana, Prageeth Chaturanga, M. Sarath alias Sahan, and S. Prageeth Chaturanga. On the following morning when he went to the resort hotel he came to know from the staff that Khuram Sheik was killed during the commotion on the previous night.