AG requests CJ to set up three-member judge bench to look into Rathupaswela shooting incident

The Attorney General has requested the Chief Justice to appoint a three-member judge bench at the Colombo High Court to investigate the Rathupaswela shooting incident of 2013.

AG Dappula de Livera had stated that charges would be filed under 94 counts against four persons including breaching Section 450 (4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

These suspects include Brigadier Anura Deshapriya Gunawardena, Dingiri Arunage Sirisena, Jayasundara Mudiyanselage Thilakaratne, and Lalith Grey.

The Rathupaswela shooting incident left three people dead and 45 injured after security personnel opened fire at a group of protestors who demanded clean drinking water.

The incident had taken place on August 1, 2013, as residents demanded the closure of Venigros (Pvt) Ltd which was alleged to have been polluting water in the area.

AG De Livera had also pointed out that tests carried out on the water by several authorities including the Government Analyst had shown that it could not be used to fulfill any need of the public.

The letter to the Chief Justice showed how a group of around 150 army personnel led by Brigadier Gunawardena – an accused, had even confiscated the items belonging to journalists who had gone to cover the protest.

Further, the letter also shows that Brigadier Gunawardena had provided only about 10 minutes for protestors to clear off although they had requested for 30 minutes to do so.

Accordingly, the AG had requested to appoint a three-member judge bench due to the complexity and seriousness of the facts concerning the case.