The Colombo High Court has ordered the release on bail of a driver who had been in remand custody for nearly a year in connection with the alleged murder of a female lawyer residing in Mirihana.

The order was issued by High Court Judge Lal Bandara yesterday (27) following the review of a bail application submitted by Attorney-at-Law Jayaba Kalupahana on behalf of the suspect.

Accordingly, the suspect was granted a cash bail of Rs. 500,000 and three sureties of Rs. 100,000 each. The judge also prohibited the suspect from travelling abroad without court permission, imposing an overseas travel ban.

As part of the bail conditions, the suspect must report to the Mirihana Police on the last Sunday of every month. The judge further stated that if any of these conditions are violated, the bail will be revoked and the suspect will be remanded again.

The suspect, a resident of Kirinda, Puhulwella, had served as the driver of the deceased lawyer and was remanded following his arrest by Mirihana Police in connection with her murder on September 21, 2024. The victim, a 36-year-old lawyer who had been separated from her spouse, was allegedly killed at her residence.

Attorney Jayaba Kalupahana, appearing for the suspect, informed the court that his client had worked as the victim’s driver for about two years and later developed a romantic relationship with her. The suspect is accused of committing the murder out of rage after the victim attempted to end the relationship.

The attorney further argued that under Section 16 of the Bail Act, the maximum remand period for such an offence is 12 months, and the suspect has already been in custody for 12 months and 2 days, making him eligible for bail.

However, the state counsel strongly opposed the bail request, stating that the Attorney General has decided to file direct indictments against the suspect in the High Court. She argued that releasing the suspect on bail before the indictment could interfere with the proceedings and obstruct justice.

In response, the defence attorney stated that there was no evidence suggesting his client had influenced or threatened any witnesses. He requested that the suspect be released on bail under any suitable conditions.

After considering all submissions, the High Court Judge issued the bail order. (Newswire)

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The wife of former state minister Lohan Ratwatte has been remanded for the alleged possession of an illegally assembled unregistered luxury car.

Ratwatte’s wife was remanded until 07 November by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court today. 

The vehicle without a number plate was found at a house belonging to Lohan Ratwatte’s wife in Mirihana recently. 

The vehicle was found during a probe conducted by a team of Police officials based on a tip-off from the Mirihana Police last week.  

The investigating Police Officers had found that the house belonged to Ratwatte’s wife only after discovering the vehicle at the property. 

During questioning at the time, Lohan Ratwatte had claimed that his Coordinating Secretary, who had died by suicide in Kandy recently, had brought the car to the property without informing him and that he was unaware of the owner of the vehicle. 

On 31 October, Lohan Ratwatte was arrested over the incident and is currently in remand custody until 07 November. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Lohan Ratwatte has denied links to a car, without number plates, that was found in the parking lot of a house belonging to his wife in Mirihana, it was reported.

According to the Daily News, during questioning, Lohan Ratwatte had revealed that the vehicle had been brought to the property by his Coordinating Secretary, who recently died by suicide in Kandy. 

The vehicle in question was found at a house in Mirihana belonging to Ratwatte’s wife, during a probe conducted on Saturday by a team of Police officials based on a tip-off from the Mirihana Police.  

The investigating Police Officers are said to have found that the house belonged to Ratwatte’s wife only after discovering the vehicle at the property. 

During questioning, former minister Lohan Ratwatte claimed that his deceased Coordinating Secretary had brought the car to the property without informing him and that he was not aware of the owner of the vehicle. 

As the keys to the car are missing, the Police intend to report facts to the court and then break open the car to inspect the vehicle. 

The Police further intend to conduct an investigation into the vehicle with the assistance of the Government Analysts Department and other relevant officials. (Newswire)

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A 35-year-old woman has been murdered after being attacked with a machete in the Santhanampitiya area in Pengiriwatte, Mirihana today. 

The Police said the woman had been attacked inside her residence by an individual who had previously been employed as a driver at the house.

The Mirihana Police has launched investigations to apprehend the suspect wanted in connection to the murder. (Newswire)

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Two youths, aged 18 and 20 years, were reported dead in a motorcycle accident that occurred in the Kimbulawala area in Mirihana on Sunday. 

Police investigations reveal that a motorcycle without a licence plate had collided head-on with another motorcycle.

The two riders who had sustained serious injuries had been admitted to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila, where both had succumbed to injuries. 

The deceased youths have been identified as residents of Mirihana and Madiwela. (Newswire/ Pic- Accident1st)

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The driver of a bus has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment over an accident reported in Mirihana in 2007 in which a primary school girl and her grandmother were killed due to reckless driving.

The sentencing was announced by Colombo High Court Judge Professor Namal Bandara on Wednesday (Dec 06). 

The accused had driven a dilapidated bus in a reckless manner and high speed resulting in colliding with three parked three-wheelers in the Mirihana area in January 2007.

The 05-year-old primary school girl and her grandmother who were inside one three-wheeler had died on the spot, while several passengers in the bus had also sustained serious injuries.

A case was filed against the bus driver and the owner of the bus on several charges related to the accident. 

Issuing the verdict on the case, the court sentenced the driver of the bus to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 18,000, while also imposing a fine of Rs. 21,000 on the owner of the bus. (NewsWire)

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A suspect involved in setting fire to a bus carrying Army personnel in Mirihana during the 2022 Sri Lanka riots, has been apprehended, it was reported.

According to Daily News, the suspect is accused of having set fire to a bus carrying Army officers deployed to provide security to the Mirihana residence of Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the riots that broke out during his tenure as the President. 

The suspect a 33-year-old resident of Pujapitiya in Mahiyanganaya was arrested by officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Saturday (Sep 02).

The Police stated that the man had been apprehended following his identification through video and photographic evidence, and investigations into the telephone network. (NewsWire)

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