Patali in Court Over Controversial Rajagiriya Crash Case

COLOMBO (News 1st); The criminal case filed against former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka over the controversial 2016 road accident in Rajagiriya and the alleged attempt to conceal evidence related to the incident was taken up before the Colombo High Court today.

At the hearing, High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli ordered that pre-trial conferences in the case will be held on November 10.

The accused, Patali Champika Ranawaka, appeared before court today.

President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne appeared on behalf of the accused, while State Counsel Samadari Piyasena appeared representing the Attorney General.

The case has been filed under 16 charges, including causing grievous injuries through the reckless driving of luxury vehicle WP KT-7545, which allegedly collided with a motorcycle ridden by Sandeep Sampath Gunawardena near President’s College, Rajagiriya on February 28, 2016, fleeing the scene without stopping, and fabricating false evidence in relation to the incident.

Of the charges filed against the former minister under this case, the first charge relates to causing a serious road accident under Section 329 of the Penal Code and Section 151 of the Motor Traffic Act, failing to report the incident to the police, and failing to take steps to admit the injured party to hospital.

The second charge alleges a violation of Section 161(1)(a)(iii) of the Motor Traffic Act, for which penalties may be imposed under Sections 214 or 224 of the relevant legislation, the prosecution informed court.

In addition, a third charge has been filed for an alleged violation of Section 161(1)(a)(iv) of the Motor Traffic Act, with the prosecution informing court that penalties in relation to the offence are enforceable under Section 161(1)(a)(v) or Section 214 of the Act.

The order was issued after the prosecution informed court that a separate case filed by the Attorney General against former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, his former driver Thusitha Dilum Thushara, and former Welikada Police Officer-in-Charge, Assistant Superintendent of Police Sudath Akmadala, had also been fixed for hearing on the same date. After considering the submissions, the High Court Judge made the relevant order.