A witness in the 2019 White van press conference case filed against former minister Rajitha Senarate has revealed that he was forced by a Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at that time to give false testimony before the Magistrate Court.
According to Daily News, prosecution witness Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake made the declaration before the Colombo High Court yesterday (02).
Madanayake informed the court that he gave false testimony before the Magistrate Court due to being forced by the then CID Director to make allegations against two accused, including former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta, who also issued a warrant against prosecution witness Sarath Kumara for his absence before the Court for the second consecutive day to record his testimony.
Based on an earlier directive issued to the Attorney General by the Colombo High Court to submit a report on the alleged influence of witnesses following reports of two witnesses being assaulted, the assessment report of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) in this regard was produced in court as well.
The SIS report stated that there were no influences on the witnesses from the accused. The Colombo High Court fixed the case for hearing on June 8 2023.
The Attorney General filed indictments comprising 14 charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting against four persons, including former minister Rajitha Senaratne and former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Mohammad Rumi in the Colombo High Court in connection with the controversial White Van Press Conference.
Sakalavalli Arachchige Sarath Kumara and Watareka Gamage Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake were released from the charges and were named as prosecution witnesses in the indictment.
Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne who was arrested for organizing the press conference on November 10 ahead of the Presidential election 2019, was later released on bail after the court observed that the charges levelled against Senaratne were bailable offences.
Former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Mohommed Rumi Mohommed Azeem and two other individuals, namely Sarath Kumara and Sanjeewa Madanayake, were also released on bail. (NewsWire)