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Udatalawinna mass murder : Lt. Wijeratne's platoon despatched and recalled on Ratwatte's instructions

by Kumar Wethasinghe

Requests were made to the Army Commander to send Lt. Wijeratne and a platoon to Kandy to provide internal security to former Deputy Defence Minister Ratwatte in October, 2001 and to call back the same platoon on December 6, 2001 on the instructions made by the first accused, Anuruddha Ratwatte, revealed Brigadier Srimath Keerthi Hulangamuwa during his evidence before the Trial at Bar hearing the Udatalawinna mass murder case at Hulftsdorp on Thursday.

The Trial at Bar comprises Eric Basnayake (President), Deepali Wijesundara and Sunil Rajapaksa.

The witness also admitted that he attended a security meeting held at the first accused's Mahaiyaya residence in November 2001 attended by Brigadier Tammita and high ranking police officers of the Kandy district.

Examined by Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando Brigadier Srimath Keerthi Hulangamuwa testified that he joined the Sri Lanka Army as an officer cadet in 1971. However due to various difficulties he had resigned from the army in 1979.

Again in 1997 after a lapse of 18 years he had rejoined the army when he was recalled for active service by the Army Commander.

Thereafter he was attached to serve as the staff officer to the Deputy Defence Minister, Anuruddha Ratwatte.

In 2001 he was appointed as the Private Secretary to Deputy Defence Minister Ratwatte in addition to his functions as the Chief Staff Officer.

He said duties mainly involved coordinating functions with the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs and the IGP. He had operated from an office located in the Defence Ministry premises.

Questioned whether he knew the Mahaiyawa residence of the first accused Anuruddha Ratwatte he said he knew.

The former Deputy Defence Minister had several security personnel to provide security for him. They were a police and army platoon. Gamini Silva, SP was in-charge of the police security while Lt. Welaratne was in-charge of the Army platoon.

Questioned about the security arrangements of the Deputy Defence Minister during the General Election 2001, the Brigadier said in October that year the Deputy Defence Minister had telephoned him and had informed him to request the IGP to transfer Gamini Silva, SP from Jaffna to handle Ratwatte's security functions in Kandy.

Towards the end of November Ratwatte had once more called him on his cellphone and had requested him to convey a message to the Army Commander about the Deputy Minister's security arrangements. Accordingly the witness had conveyed to the Army Commander that the Deputy Minister felt his security was insufficient and to send an additional VIP security platoon comprising Lt. Wijeratne. Ratwatte had indicated that Lt. Wijeratne who had served him during the 2000 poll was well experienced.

Thereafter on or around November 29, 2001 Brigadier Tammita had informed him that Lt. Wijeratne and his platoon had arrived in Kandy. Since the witness was in Colombo he had requested Brigadier Tammita to contact Lt. Welaratne or the Deputy Defence Minister for further instructions.

The witness also said that throughout the general election periods he had been confined to his office in Colombo. However he could recollect visiting the Deputy Defence Minister's Kandy residence on two occasions. He said on one instance on November 25 and 26th 2001, attended the Deputy Defence Minister's meeting held at the Mahaiyawa residence. He also said along with other service personnel Brigadier Tammita was also present at the meeting.

The witness identified the accused Anuruddha Ratwatte, his sons Lohan and Chanuka and the 14th and 15th accused who used to accompany the former Deputy Defence Minister's convoy when he visited Colombo.

On December 6, 2001 around 8.00 a.m. he had received another phone call from the first accused Anuruddha Ratwatte. Ratwatte had instructed to inform the Army Commander to recall the VIP platoon and Lt. Wijeratne.

Under cross examination by Senior Defence Counsel, R. I. Obeysekera, PC the witness said that his father's native place was Matale but he was born at Anuradhapura. Asked whether he had a house in Kandy, the witness said yes. Before he joined the Army and had studied at the Trinity College, Kandy.

Questioned as to why he left the Army in 1979 the witness said there was unpleasantness and severe pressure against him.

Questioned further as to what the pressures he faced, the witness said apart from being transferred to Galle some of his seniors had harassed and humiliated him in the presence of his juniors. He said he resigned after his superior officer, a Colonel advised him about the internal animosity.

Asked whether he did not go before the Police Victimisation Committee in 1995 the witness admitted he did because he felt all the ill treatment was because he had served even for the Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

Earlier witness Ranjith Samaratunga also gave evidence before court.

In this case, the Attorney General had indicted the 15 accused on 72 counts including conspiracy to commit murders, unlawful assembly, aiding and abetting and committing the murders of 10 Muslims at Udatalawinna on the General Election day December 5, 2001.

The accused are Anuruddha Ratwatte, Lohan Ratwatte, Chanuka Ratwatte, W. M. R. Bandara Dharmasiri, H. M. Sunil Chandra de Silva, G. H. Kamal Wijeratne, E. Anura Kumara, D. M. B. S. Dissanayaka, K. A. N. Rohan Kuruppu, M. K. Krishantha Indika Wijeratne, S. N. Dammika Siriwardana, D. M. Dissanayaka alias Pan Mahanda, Sean Wanigasekara, Nalin Wasantha Ratgama and H. W. Kingsley Witharana.

Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando with State Counsel Achala Wengappuli, Mohan Senaviratne and S. K. Wickramarachchi appeared for the prosecution.

The Counsel for the defence were R. I. Obeyesekere PC and Wijaya Wickramaratne PC, with Ramyachandra Gunasekara and Prasanna Obeyesekere appeared for the first accused. Tirantha Walaliyadda with W. Samarajeewa, M. P. Jayasinghe (for 2nd and 3rd accused). S. L Gunasekara, Ashly Herat and Anil Silva (for 4th to 8th accused). A. W. Usup, A. R. M. Raheem, Piyal Ratnayaka (9 to 11). Udaya Rohan De Silva with Sudath Karawita (for 10th accused) and R. I. Obeyesekere PC with Champani Padmasekara, S. A. Premarathna and L. Liyanarachchi (for 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th accused).

Counsel for the aggrieved parties were Daya Perera PC, Upul Jayasuriya, Kolitha Dharmawardena, Lakshman Perera, Ronald Perera, M. N. Saheed, Prasanna de Alwis, Faizer Musthapa, Panduka Keerthiratna and Sampath Soyza instructed by Samararatna Associates for the families of the deceased T. M. Fizer, Abdul Munaf Mohammed Mohideen, Mohommed Mirfan and Sakanya Mohommed Rizvan and for the injured Mohammed Naseim Abdul Malik.

Also for the families of deceased Mohammed Rafeem Mohammed Nazmy, Mohammed Sali Mohammed Nazar, Hanifa Mohammed Rizvan and Mohammed Ikbal Mohammed Aswar, M/s Kolitha Dharmawardana, Lakshman Perera, Ronald Perera, M. M. Saheed, H. G. Husain, Faizer Musthapa, Farman Cassim, Sesiri Herath.

Captain K. D. L. Saman Kumara (Army legal officer) watched the interests of the Army. 

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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