First suspect in journalist’s murder case further remanded

The first suspect on remand in connection with the alleged abduction and murder of Journalist Sampath Lakmal De Silva was further remanded by Mount Lavinia Addl. Magistrate and Addl. District Judge C.H.G. Liyanage.

The suspect Chinthaka Warna Kumara was a retired solider of the army intelligence unit of the Gemunu Regiment.the judge issued an open warrant to arrest the second suspect, a retired Lieutenant of the same unit Niroshan Annajhi and ordered the CID to file plaints against the suspects and to seek the assistance of a state counsel if required.

The CID told court that the second suspect had gone abroad and that steps would be taken to call for a report from the Controller of Immigration and Emigration while also seeking instructions from the Attorney General in this regard.

Attorney-at-law Geethma Fernando appeared for the first suspect and Attorney-at-law Mjr. Ajith Pathirana for the second.