The Colombo High Court hearing the controversial 'Sil Redi' distribution case filed against former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge and former Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Director General Anusha Palpita, in connection with a criminal misappropriation of Rs. 600 million belonging to the TRC funds during the 2015-Presidential Election campaign yesterday concluded the prosecution evidence.
The defence will have an opportunity to call its witnesses when the case resumes on February 14.
When the case pertaining to the matter came up before High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga, Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed court that the prosecution has concluded testifying its witnesses.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against the two accused on three counts of committing a criminal misappropriation funds amounting to Rs. 600 million at TRC while spending for a ‘Sil Redi’ distribution programme in contravention of the Telecommunication Act, No. 25 of 1991 Act during the period of October 30, 2014 to January 5, 2015. The prosecutors alleged that the funds referred to had been remitted to a bank account maintained by the Secretary to the President.
The charges had been filed under the Public Property Act while listing 21 persons as the prosecution witnesses. Former Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya, former President’s coordinating Secretary (Religious Affairs) Ven. Vatinapaha Somananda Thera are among the persons who had been named as the witnesses. President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa with Counsel Kanchana Rathwatte and Niroshan Siriwardena appeared for the accused.
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