Dirty tricks and high stakes political gamesmanship took centre-stage at the Supreme Court when former Navy commander Wasantha Karannagoda’s fundamental rights petition to prevent his arrest by the CID in the controversial kidnapping and murder case of 11 youths came up for support before a bench of three judges last night.
Romesh De Silva
The court granted final relief after several hours of hearing preventing Karannagoda’s arrest or being taken into custody despite the AG officially announcing that indictments will be framed against the former Navy Commander for his role in aiding and abetting the murder of 11 young men abducted by a ring of naval personnel involved in a ransom racket.
President’s Counsel Romesh De Silva who has become the lawyer of choice for suspects trying to prevent their arrest by law enforcement agencies investigating corruption and violent crimes kicked off his submissions in the Supreme Court on Thursday morning directly accusing the Attorney General of currying political favour in seeking Karannagoda’s arrest.
“It is well known that the Attorney General and the Solicitor General have met the President and asked to be promoted to this very court,” De Silva PC claimed in open court as officials causing ripples in the court room.
Legal observers analysed that the remark – reiterated several times – was a badly disguised attempt to prejudice the bench headed by SC Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare.
Justice Aluwihare is a contender for the position of Chief Justice when the incumbent CJ Nalin Perera retires in April 2019. However, the Attorney General can be directly promoted as Chief Justice, overlooking more senior members of the Supreme Court if necessary. AG Jayantha Jayasuriya therefore is also a contender for the position.
“Minutes after that remark you realised that the attitude of the bench seemed to change” a senior lawyer who watched the proceedings told Colombo Telegraph.
This is an attempt to prejudice the judges, the senior lawyer analysed.
Additional Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne who appeared for the AG refused to respond to the charges but reiterated that the AG had no political interest in pursuing Karannagoda as a suspect. (By Ramani Bulathgamuwa)
JD / March 8, 2019
NGOs want some one taken by neck, ang get what they did in Nanthikadaal so they can pay the dues of BTF, GTF, TGTE, CTF, AUTF and tamils all over the world except those in vishvamdu who died for the homeland.
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Mokade badu / March 8, 2019
What a scumbag. Mof.
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Dodo / March 8, 2019
This Karanagoda case and Human Rights Road show is to distract from 2 facts:
1. The US-UK Human Right Endgame in Sri Lanka is setting up a US military base, aka. a Logisitics Hub in Lanka, especially now that their Military Base in the Indian Ocean Diego Garcia is in question.
2. Distract from the UN ICJ ruling 2 weeks ago on the Chagos Islands Case that called onthe UK, EU and US to de-colonize the Indian Ocean and return islands and marine resources to Indian Ocean peoples.
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Upul / March 8, 2019
Are the SC judges idiots?
This is not the first time this lawyer has violated ethics and norms of court practice.
In other matured judicial systems, he would be hauled up for contempt of court.
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Sarrij / March 12, 2019
U.
There is no contempt here.
It’s “accepted” practice in SL justice system for the AG to “aspire” to be CJ. It’s all political.
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walagenba / March 8, 2019
this kind of reporting border on slander and contempt of Court I wish this gossip writer is accurate, for their own sake
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critical thinking / March 8, 2019
politics has ruined the country.
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Muhandiram / March 8, 2019
What about SHAMELESS Loyers like Romesh de Silva who have no qualms about appearing for well known Scoundrels in politics and saving their Disgusting political career?
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Tintin / March 8, 2019
When the same lawyer is apperaing for the Fonseca and Shirani B he was a hero for who is now calling him like a Villon. He appear for his client and do the best for him. That is all. If the suspects are need not to be defended as they say now, no need of system of adjudicating justice .. social worrier in the social media can do that job.
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mike / March 10, 2019
Muhandiram – One shameless “lowyer” Hemantha Warnakukulasooriya has entered Nibbana and another scoundrel whom you refer to is waiting in the departure lounge. This notorious A.H. is making hay while the sun is shining! P.C. my foot!
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Nic / March 10, 2019
Muhandiram: Please be advised that Romesh de Silva is a scoundrel, a low life sob who is only after money. He is a greedy pig who will twist and turn facts as much his limited intellect would allow and the gullible idiots on the SC bench would buy it, for after all they are all appointees of the bastard MR
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Lucky / March 8, 2019
In the end it’s all about money. The losers are the common people of Sri Lanka.
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Estate Labourer / March 8, 2019
The bigger the scoundrel you are, the more you need the services of Romesh de Silva, who has a knack for cutting the long arm of the law down to size. For a substantial consideration, of course!
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Umbe. Watte / March 8, 2019
Legal profession must disbar this prick from practising.
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Plato. / March 8, 2019
The remarks of Romesh De Silva casting aspersions on the AG is in bad taste and that too from a Senior and sought after Counsel.
In the old days, the Supreme Court would have censured him in open court!
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kolla / March 8, 2019
Romesh De Silva says he is a patriot. The guy is a dual citizen !
What conmen we have in this country !
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Douglas / March 8, 2019
This is what is called “JUDICIARY MAFIA”. We talk of “ETHICS”; but do we see such a thing in practice, from the “TOP” most to the “BOTTOM”? What a country we live in? Hopefully the “YOUNGER GENERATION” would turn things around. That too is “Doubtful”, because the whole of the society has been very systematically converted to live a highly “Commercialized” life style, in terms of which, “ETHICS” have been kicked out of the door and in which place “MONEY” (earned in whatever possible way) has been welcomed .
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thondamany / March 8, 2019
What irks is who or why IP Silva submitted a B report to Court in 2016 requesting the Court to make an order for UN Team to inspect the underground cells in Trincomalee navy base?
Could’nt the CID do it themselves & why get a UN team ??
Internationalise the Investigations?
Who was IP Silva’s immediate Supervisory Officer?
Investigating is one aspect but Internationalising was another…
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Ranjith / March 8, 2019
My foot for the black coats of Sri Lanka. They don’t have any moral or character. For dirty and filthy money, they are ready to defend any dirty criminals. They lost all their souls, and they call and think that they are educated and respected but many consider them no better than the criminals.
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Sarath / March 8, 2019
So the AG playing along with President’s game to not arrest Karannagoda! AG is supposed to be independent. Not to play ultra nationalist politics!
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Kalu Nangi / March 8, 2019
Just shows to what a pathetic low level the President of this country has fallen into for a Counsel to inform in public the unethical behavior of the President. No wonder the Constitutional Council does not accept the recommendations of this President!
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Mokade badu / March 9, 2019
This prick talks about patriotism. Does not understand what it means and well known as a unscrupulous lawyer who for money will arselick any criminal. Should be disbarred and hammered with shit.
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Rytan fonseka / March 9, 2019
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K.Pillai / March 9, 2019
This is typical after-dinner loose gossip after some glasses.
Karannagoda’s Defence Lawyer is bankrupt of creative ideas. Surely the Apex Court or any Court will see through this ‘dirty tricks’.
Such idle statements can go against the defendant.
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Rytan fonseka / March 9, 2019
Mannar mass grave fucked Colombo telegraph hoopoooooohoohhhooooooo finally ct dogs eat own shit be frank to yourself and accept it
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Mano / March 9, 2019
I now know why the statue of Justice is blindfolded. For our Govt. even that is not enough to preserve the security of the Sinhala Nation. Now we have got to Blind fold the attorneys and the Jurors to protect the country’s Sovereignty. Long Live Appey Anduwa.
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Good Governance / March 9, 2019
As highlighted in one of the articles in the CT itself, there are no uniform standards with respect to arrest, remanding and granting bail. Some senior Naval personnel were on remand for more than 1 year, but no proper charges were preferred. Without any prejudice there is a point, whether it is Karannagoda anybody, to use the best possible lawyers and use best possible arguments cum wild allegations to win a case. Anyway now the matter has been settled between parties as to what should be done. I am mindful of the fact that several youth, some if not all are from Colombo were abducted, ransoms were demanded and finally done away with somewhere in Trincomalee. Terrible is not the word for this kind of crime. As a reader of the Batalanada Commission report, an outfit that “detained” after “abduction” (not formally arrested) suspected JVPers in late 1980’s, it was revealed that inducements were made for the detainees relatives to pay a third party lawyer to secure their release. So these abductions in the Sri Lankan history is nothing new. Subsequently a Police high up too was caught in a similar act and now he is under the death sentence. But as promoters of good governance one cannot go on hearsay but on solid evidence. Sooner the trial begins the better for all of us to know what actually happened.
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CITIZEN / March 10, 2019
Is it not surprising that the Court did not censure the Counsel for his “unwanted” remarks which are totally irrelevant for his argument and a hidden aspersion on the appointments to the Judiciary, which amounts to Contempt of Court!
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Umbe. Watte / March 10, 2019
Fu shithead lawyer who stoops so low.
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Wickrama Wickramasinghe / March 12, 2019
Romesh De Silva charges Rs 3 lakhs for one appearance
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CITIZEN / March 14, 2019
He is a crookish lawyer. He benefits from the victim and the victor! He appeared for Lassantha and defended Gota!!!
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