Tamil Prisoners' case transferred to Anuradhapura Court on the request of witnesses - TNA spokesman

Tue, Oct 24, 2017, 12:43 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


Oct 23, Colombo: Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesman and Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran disclosed that the case of three former LTTE cadres scheduled to be taken up for hearing in the Vavuniya High Court has been transferred to Anuradhapura High Court upon their request.

Speaking at a media briefing in Jaffna Monday, MP Sumanthiran said the case has been shifted to Anuradhapura High Court in accordance with the requirement of the witnesses.

The case has been transferred to Anuradhapura High Court on the orders of the Attorney General as the state's witnesses, who were also former cadres of LTTE, were refused to testify in the Tamil dominated Vavuniya High Court for fear of their lives

He said the Attorney General has taken this decision as the witnesses of the case is legally entitled to make a request to transfer the case to another court if he has any outside pressure.

The three former LTTE fighters- Mathiyarasan Sulakshan, Rasathurai Thiruvarul and Ganeshan Tharshan- are accused of executing 18 Navy and 8 Army personnel taken as prisoners and burning their bodies in January 2009 when the LTTE is retreating from Kilinochchi.

Witnesses have made statements that they fear to give evidence in Tamil-populated area and they have no objection to do so as they feel safe in the Sinhalese-dominated Anuradhapura.

MP Sumanthiran noted that there was no legal barrier in transferring the case to Vavuniya if there was no objection from the witnesses.


Meanwhile hundreds of people staged a demonstration opposite the Justice Ministry today demanding to transfer the case to Vavuniya High Court.