Kandy Times

The disappearance of reports on the death of a first year Medical Undergraduate of the Peradeniya University, handed over to the Katugastota Police 12 years ago was reported to Kandy Court 1 High Court Judge D.S.C. Lekamwasam by Attrorney-at-Law Vernon Gunasekera.

He mentioned this while leading the evidence of Senior Police Superintendent Roshan Fernando.

The Attorney said that he had requested for the original copy from the Katugastota Police Station and also from Kandy, but they could not furnish the extract as the original information was not available.

In this case three accused, Kotuwegedera .Sriyantha Dharmasena alias Banda, Egodegedera Jayantha Kumarasinghe alias Kiriputha and Wasantha Banda Ratnayake alias Mangala have been indicted for the alleged murder of Medical Student Aludeniye Prassana Udajeewa on January 5, 1994. All accused are on bail.

The witness was submitting evidence over the death of Prassana Udajeewa who died under doubtful circumstances in 1994.

SSP Roshan Fernando told Court that he was the Officer in Charge of Katugastota Police at the time of the incidence and that he was presently serving in the Chilaw Division.

The witness further said that for no reasons, the inquiry had been handed over to another police team in Kandy and that they continued with the inquiry.
Attorney Gunasekera told Court that the Police Officer who took over the investigation was now in Canada on an official visit.

Witness also said that after he was removed from the case he had no interest in seeking any other information and that the only information that he had recorded were placed before the new investigator. To aother question by defense Attorney Gunasekera, witness said he did not lead evidence in the Magistrate's Court, but it had been done by Inspector Gunaratne. Witness said he was no longer interested in the case since it was taken off his hands. State Counsel Miss. Chandima Wijebandara while cross examining, sought his opinion as to whether it was suicide. The witness said that he could not offer his opinion, but that Dr. Nadesan was of the view that it was suicide. The defending attorney sought court’s permission to lead the evidence of the accused and not a statement from the dock.

The case was postponed for September 21.

Kithsiri Seneviratne appeared for the first accused while Vernon Gunasekera appeared for the second and third accused.