Tissa Attanayake discharged from forged documents case

Former United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has been discharged from the forged documents case after the case was closed before Colombo High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi this morning.

During today's hearing, Presidents Counsel Kalinga Indratissa representing the accused had said that his client, Mr. Attanayake, would apologise for any inconvenience was caused to the President and Prime Minister  and releasing it to the media. Mr. Indratissa had also told court that his client would not commit such fraudulent acts in future.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris representing the President and the Prime Minister argued that individuals must spare a thought on the seriousness of their statements being made before the media. However, Mr. Peiris noted that he would not object to closing off the case since both parties had arrived at a common consensus to this effect.

Accordingly, the High Court Judge had announced that the case would be closed of in accordance with the Penal Code.

Mr. Attanayake was accused of breaching the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by portraying a doucment containing the forged signatures of the President and Prime Minister during the 2015 presidential elections. The document had indicated an underhand agreement which was signed between the UNP and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the first witness in the case was represented by a team of attorneys led by Presidents Counsel Nissanka Nanayakkara while President Maithripala Sirisena, the second witness was represented by Attorney Lakshmi Jayawickrama.