Case involving minor: Rajitha family discharged
Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s family members were discharged by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday in a case over abducting a minor.
Eksath Senaratne, Chatura Senaratne and Dr. Sujatha Senaratne were discharged on charges of abducting Dinitha Aloka Ranasinghe from the custody of her parents. At the onset of inquiry into a habeas corpus case filed by the parents of the minor girl, Senior Counsel Saliya Pieris informed court that the parents had withdrawn the habeas corpus case in the High Court and there was no need for the Magistrate to inquire the petition any more.
Counsel Sujeewa Gamage appearing for the parents of the girl told the Magistrate that he had not received any instructions from his client over withdrawing of the habeas corpus application.
The magistrate on perusing the case brief observed that the case had been withdrawn by the petitioners in the High Court and terminated inquiry and dismissed the case.
Accordingly he discharged the suspects from the case.
Thereafter during the inquiry into a case filed by the Child Protection Authority against Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, the Authority officers informed court that the Attorney General after perusing the investigation extracts had informed that there were no provisions for the prosecution to proceed with the case and they would withdraw it.
Consequently the suspects were discharged from all the charges framed against them. However Magistrate Pilapitya asked the minor girl to state before open court if she had any grievances. The girl making a statement to the Magistrate said there were two weeks more for her to become a major.
She said the probation officers had not recorded her statements the way she said. She further said they asked her to go back to her parents.
Dinithi said she was not happy to live with her parents. She said once in the court premises her parents attempted to take her back forcibly from the custody of her warden who came to court.
The Magistrate ordered the Child protection authority to record the statement of the girl and if necessary to call the case for inquiry by a motion.
DinithaAloka’s parents Arambage Gamini Ranasinghe and Gamini Indira Rodrigo of Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha Colombo 5 filed the habeas corpus application in the High Court. Counsel Sajeewa Gamage appeared for the parents. Senior Counsel Saliya Pieris appeared for the corpus Dinitha Aloka Ranasinghe. Senior Counsel K.V Thavarasha appeared with Gunaratne Wanninayake and Kelum Ubeysiri for the suspects. Attorney –At- law Gawry Sangari Thavarasha instructed the Counsel for DinithAloka and for the suspects.The parents citied as respondents Eksath Senartne. Chatura Senartne Dr. Sujatha Senartne, Dr Rajitha Senaratne Sarupa Manatunge Osala Herath, Samantha Kumara, Cinnamon Garden’s Police OIC K.A.A. Gamage,The Chairman and the OIC of National Child Protection and Women’s Bureau and the IGPfor the habeas corpus application as respondents.
However Magistrate Pilapitya asked the minor girl to state before open court if she had any grievances