Jaffna court fixes inquiry into HC applications

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 15:06 GMT]
The Jaffna High Court Judge Mr.K.P.S.Varatharajah fixed the inquiry for July 28 into the six Habeas Corpus (HC) applications submitted by parents and relatives of 45 persons who are reported disappeared after the arrest by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) during the year 1996, legal sources said.

When the HC applications were taken up for inquiry Monday an army corporal Somaratne Rajapakse who was sentenced to death in the Krishanthy rape and murder case was produced in court. He was brought down from Welikada jail following his written request to the court expressing his willingness to give evidence when the six HC applications were taken up for inquiry, legal sources said.

In a letter to the HC through his lawyer, Mr.Rajapakse had stated that he was serving in Jaffna and Ariyalai areas during the period mentioned in the HC applications and he was able to enlighten the court what happened in Jaffna then, legal sources said.

The HC allowed his application and ordered the prison officials to produce Mr.Rajapakse in court. Accordingly he was brought down to Jaffna Monday under heavy security and produced in court. However the Judge put off the inquiry and inquired from Jaffna prison officials whether they could keep him in their custody till the next date. Prison officials replied that they were unable to provide security to Mr.Rajapakse in Jaffna prison, as he was a convicted prisoner in Krishanthy rape and murder case, legal sources said.

The Judge then ordered that Mr.Rajapakse should be taken back to Welikada jail and to produce him on the next date. The Judge gave final chance to two respondents, Army Commander Lionel Balagalle and Captain Dumminda to submit their affidavits on the next date, legal sources said.