No illness: JMO reports on Champika’s health condition | Daily News

No illness: JMO reports on Champika’s health condition

Statement recorded from specialist doctor
Case to be taken up again on Feb 18

The case filed against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Patali Champika Ranawaka and two others for an alleged motor accident that took place in 2016 at Rajagiriya, was fixed for further trial on February 18 by the Colombo High Court.

The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta.

At the last hearing, the Colombo High Court Judge ordered the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to examine accused Ranawaka who was admitted at a private hospital in Colombo due to a sudden illness and submit a proper report on his health condition. Following the Court order, Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ajith Thennakoon who examined the accused, has conducted ten medical examinations and submitted a report containing his recommendations.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris pointed out to Court that according to the forensic medical reports, it has been confirmed that the accused does not have any serious illness.

SDSG Peiris told Court that this shows how the accused had deliberately tried to postpone the trial by submitting a letter from a specialist doctor working at a private hospital stating that the accused would not be able to appear in Court for about a month.

He was seeking from the Court to consider the two options of remanding the accused until the end of the trial or continuing the trial. Meanwhile, following the Court order, the Colombo Crimes Division had recorded a statement from the specialist doctor who had given the accused a medical report, and according to the statement, he had given himself a letter assuming that the accused should be hospitalized for about a month for treatment. SDSG Peiris pointed out that what the doctors should be doing is not making assumptions but diagnosing diseases according to medical records, and that he finds that the doctor’s actions are an insult to the noble profession of the doctor.

Considering the facts, Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta fixed the case for further trial on February 18. The Attorney General had filed an indictment before the High Court against former MP Patali Champika, his driver Thusith Dilum Kumara and ASP Sudath Asmadala over the hit-and-run accident at Rajagiriya in 2016. 


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