The Supreme Court today issued an interim order suspending Colombo High Court trial proceedings against Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka in connection with the Rajagiriya motor accident case. This interim order will be effective until March 16th, next year.
Meanwhile, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Achala Wengappuli granted leave to proceed with the appeal petition filed by Patali Champika Ranawaka.
Former Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka filed this appeal challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to reject his revision application regarding the alleged motor accident that took place in 2016 at Rajagiriya.
Ranawaka had raised preliminary objections before the High Court on the basis that the incident pertaining to the subject matter of the indictment has been committed to the Magistrates’ Court and his driver has already pleaded guilty, therefore the High Court has no jurisdiction to proceed with the indictments.
The Colombo High Court had held that although the charges in the Magistrates’ Court and the High Court emanated from the same incident, the Criminal Procedure Code has made provision for suspects to be charged for every distinct offence.
The indictment, containing 16 charges, had been filed against MP Patali Champika, his driver, Thusith Dilum Kumara, and former officer in Charge (OIC) of the Welikada Police Station Sudath Asmadala on charges of fabricating false evidence, causing the disappearance of evidence, giving false information, being a public servant, and framing an incorrect record.
