News
Court allows pistol-weilding Hambantota mayor’s defence team to call witnesses
Hambantota High Court Judge Thamara Tennakoon, this week, allowed the defence to call witnesses to testify in the case against the Hambantota Mayor and five others over charges of assaulting and intimidating a group of United National Party (UNP) MPs on an inspection tour of the Magampura Harbour and Mattala Airport.
After conclusion of evidence by witnesses for the prosecution, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who led the prosecution, queried the stand of the defence. Udaya Rohan De Silva PC, who appeared for the defendants, informed court that he expected to provide witnesses for the defence and have them testify.
The judge ordered a list of names of witnesses for the defence be submitted by February 1.
Giving evidence for the prosecution, two police officers, M Alwis and P Panawala, stated that, on instructions from the Attorney General, they had recorded a statement from the defendant, the Hambantota mayor, at his office, and he had handed over a toy pistol.
The witnesses said they had gone to the defendant’s office, instead of having him come to the police station, due to instructions by higher-ups.