International concern over Raviraj case ruling

Jan 03, 2017

International human rights organizations are worried by the court ruling in the MP Nadaraja Raviraj murder case that was declared at midnight on December 24. The case was heard for 22 days before a special jury. The three Navy accused and the two other accused were all acquitted in unanimous decision by the jury.

Another accused, Palanisamy Suresh was abducted by a group in a white van, it was revealed at the hearing. Although matters stand thus, the actions by the law enforcement authorities and the judiciary came under scrutiny by HR organizations. Although there were eyewitness accounts during police investigations to point to Raviraj’s murder, lawyers for the accused wanted a jury for the hearing. And, all of them were cleared and acquitted based on evidence received towards the end. Civil society activists say this ruling has earned the displeasure of international HR groups.
 
These groups say that following this verdict, any local investigation cannot be trusted, including those into the killings of MP Joseph Pararajasingham, Prageeth Ekneligoda, Dharmaratnam Sivaram and ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.
 
Lawyer, MP M.A. Sumanthiran has told BBC that they would appeal the verdict. He stressed the ruling made it clear the local judiciary cannot be trusted. Raviraj and police constable Lokuwella Morage Lakshman were murdered at Narahenpita on 09 November 2009.