Colombo High Court Calls for Original Case Record

The Colombo High Court yesterday(19)  ordered the registrar of the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that the original case recording pertaining to the indictment filed against former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake be handed over to the Colombo High Court.

High Court Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena made this order consequent to an indictment filed against Attanayake by the Attorney General for displaying a fraudulent document to the media during the last Presidential Election for the purpose of affecting the result of then Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

The Attorney General alleged that Attanayake had publicly announced on December 22, 2014 that there was a secret agreement between the then Common Opposition Candidate and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Attorney General alleged Attanayake committed an offence under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007 by inciting racial or religious hatred among ethnic communities.

Section 3(1) of the ICCPR cites that no person shall propagate war or advocate national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to cause discrimination, hostility or violence.

The AG further alleged that Attanayake had committed a punishable offence under Sections 454 and 459 of the Penal Code by forging a document and displaying it to the public as genuine and that the accused had also committed an offence under Section 80-C of the Presidential Election Act for displaying a fake document prior to an election, for the purpose of affecting the result of that election in relation to the personal character or conduct of any candidate. Attanayake is currently out on bail.