Case against Patali to be heard in December

The case against the former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and 02 others, regarding the 2016 Rajagiriya hit-and-run case, has been ordered to be taken up on December 11.

The case was presented today (12) before the Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta.

The Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, representing the plaintiff, was directed by the Judge to facilitate the defense counsel to examine the computer generated evidence in the case, if needed.

Upon a request of the Deputy Solicitor General, the court ordered Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to produce the Jeep (WP KT 7545) and the motorbike involved in the incident to be produced before the court on the day of the hearing.

The case is filed over the alleged hit-and-run incident which took place on February 28, 2016 where the vehicle in which the former Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister was travelling in collided against a motorcycle in Rajagiriya, causing life-threatening injuries to its rider, Sandeep Sampath Gunawardena.

In July 2020, the Attorney General filed two indictments with the Colombo High Court against former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, his driver Dilum Thusitha Kumara, and the former OIC of the Welikada Police Station ASP Sudath Asmadala.

The former minister has been charged with causing grievous injuries to a person by rash and negligent acts, among other charges. 

Meanwhile the other indictment has been filed against the former OIC of the Welikada Police Station and present ASP Sudath Asmadala, who is charged with fabricating false evidence, and Dilum Thusitha Kumara, who was the former minister’s driver.

The second indictment consists of 16 charges including fabricating false evidence, tampering with evidence and presenting inaccurate reports to the magistrate’s court in order to protect a suspect.