Ex-Navy spokeman in contempt of court?

Jul 20, 2017

Former Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake is in contempt of court by staying inside an ambulance without attending a court hearing at the Colombo Fort magistrate’s court yesterday (19), a group of lawyers is going to complain to the magistrate. He is warded at Welisara Navy hospital under remand custody.

He had left hospital by ambulance, saying he was going for the court hearing, with hospital security entering records to that effect. But, lawyers saw him in the vehicle parked by the roadside near the court, intentionally avoiding court attendance, which is a warrantable offence.

His lawyer, president’s counsel Anil de Silva told the court there was no evidence against his client under clause 296 of the penal code to level murder charges. Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne said the evidence submitted by the CID was adequate to level that charge against Dassanayake, and that he would be remanded further. She said she had no powers to grant him bail, and told the lawyer to go to any other court to obtain bail.

The lawyer representing the Navy told the court that parents of the missing boys should stop their exhibitions before the media, referring to the media briefing they held for the first time at Hotel Nippon three days ago.

Wimal Weerawansa and so-called patriots in the joint opposition say the 11 boys had been arrested by the Navy for questioning in connection with a bomb lorry. Given below is a letter sent to the Navy commander at the time by the then minister Felix Perera, seeking the release of three of them in Navy custody.

Ex-commander Wasantha Karannagoda and incumbent Ravi Wijegunawardena are to be questioned by the CID over the missing boys.