The Court case in relation to the disappearance of Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was taken up for hearing at the Appeals Court in Colombo on April 24. The hearing opened as the attorney appearing for Mr. Eknaligoda’s wife, Sandhya, explained the proceedings of the case held at the Magistrate Court in Homagama on March 26.
Sandhya’s attorney pointed out that he may have to seek the intervention of the Appeals Court to summon former Attorney General, Mohan Peiris, to testify in Court on the comments he made at the UN Committee against Torture on November 9, 2011 in Geneva. The attorney noted that, as per his comments made in Geneva, former AG Pieris was aware that Mr. Eknaligoda was alive and living overseas. The Homagama Magistrate held an order on the same request with no date specification. The government lawyer re-iterated that his objection to summon former AG Mohan Peiris remains unchanged. The basis for his stance is that the UN document, purporting to be the transcript of Mr. Peiris’ statement submitted to the Court by the petitioner, was not entirely accurate. He went on to say that the statement contained therein could have been made on government instructions for which Mr. Peiris cannot be held personally accountable.
The Appeals Court will allow the Homagama Magistrate to ascertain the accuracy of the UN transcript of Mohan Peiris’ statement at UN Committee against Torture when the case is heard on May 17. A hearing however, will take place on May 31 at the Appeals Court where the proceedings of the May 17 hearing will be submitted. At the May 17 hearing, the lawyers will also cross-examine the last person to speak to Prageeth over the phone.
