AG seeks trial-at-bar to hear Prageeth Ekanaligoda's case

The Attorney General has requested the Chief Justice (CJ) to appoint a three-member trial-at-bar at the High Court to hear the case on the abduction and disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

In a letter addressed to CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya today (Aug 9), the AG stated that the accused in this case could be charged under eight counts for violating the Penal Code.

AG Dappula de Livera noted that the abduction had taken place on the eve of the presidential elections on January 26, 2010 when the journalist had been campaigning for an opposition candidate.

During the election campaign, Ekneligoda had accused the rival candidate and his family of corruption, the AG said.

According to the AG, the suspects in the case belonged to various ranks in the military and had carried out the abduction and disappearance of the journalist in a planned manner.

The AG observed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had conducted an investigation into the incident in 2015, after the first probe by the CID and the police had stopped abruptly.