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Athas case: Hearing put off
The Court of Appeal this week postponed the appeal in the case of intimidation of Defence Correspondent and Consultant Editor of The Sunday Times, Iqbal Athas for October 4.

State Counsel Dapula de Livera informed court that there were several discrepancies in the case brief and requested that the case be postponed. The case was taken up on Friday before Justices Chandradasa Nanayakkara and Gamini. A.L. Abeyratne.

The appeal was made by former Air Force Squadron Leaders H.M. Rukman Herath (now deceased) and D.S. Prasanna Kannangara against the sentence meted out to them by the High Court on February 7, 2002.

Squadron Leader Kannangara is now the only appellant in the case with his colleague Squadron Leader Herath being killed while the appeal was pending. Consequently, the court has allowed an application by Mr. Herath's father to intervene on behalf of his son.

State Counsel Dapula de Livera pointed out a few of the inconsistencies in the brief and said that several pages were out of context and sought a fresh copy of the brief. Accordingly a directive was given to obtain a fresh copy of the brief. President's Counsel Ranjith Abeysuriya appeared for the appellants.

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