Ten suspects identified in Bharatha murder case

MP Duminda Silva's official bodyguards were among the ten suspects identified by witnesses of presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman murder hearing.

The suspects were identified by nine witnesses at an identification parade held on Tuesday at Colombo magistrate courts.

	MP Duminda Silva is attached to the defence ministry

Three of the identified suspects were police constables who worked as official bodyguards for wounded MP Duminda Silva.

The legal team representing the murdered presidential advisor's family asked the court to make arrangements to arrest one of the main suspects Duminda Silva.

CID request

They said the court is unable to request for the arrest of the suspect through Interpol, as the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Sri Lanka had not declared that it is not possible to arrest the MP.

In an earlier hearing, the CID stated in court that the suspect Duminda Silva is currently undergoing medical treatment in Singapore, and was in poor health. The CID said that it was not possible to arrest the suspect due to his medical condition.

International warrent

"Additional Magistrate told the courts that an International warrant can only be requested in a situation where the local police are unable to arrest a suspect. The CID had not declared that they are not able to arrest Duminda Silva", Lawyer Akalanka Ukwatte, member of the legal team representing the family of the victim told the BBC Sinhala Service.

The CID declared in court that the first shots were fired by police sergeant Gamini, who was on official security duty with presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.