Attorney General Dappula De Livera is picking and choosing which cases he wants his department to prosecute quickly and which ones he wants to slow down Colombo Telegraph learns, with almost all those he is looking to actively sabotage appearing to involve members of the Rajapaksa family or officials in the former regime.
Attorney General Dappula De Livera
Last week the Attorney General’s Department informed the Supreme Court that it expected to amend indictments filed against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others in the D.A Rajapaksa Museum trial, where the former defence secretary is accused of having stolen Rs 89 million in state funds to build a museum and memorial for his late parents in his ancestral village in Hambantota. In 2016, when the FCID began investigations into the funds misappropriated from the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Board, the Rajapaksa Foundation returned part of the money, claiming it had only been “borrowed”.
The AG’s highly suspect undertaking was made when an appeal lodged by Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s lawyers was taken up at the Supreme Court. Rajapaksa’s lawyers were appealing against the indictment filed against their client on the basis that it had been incorrectly filed.
The Supreme Court did not order the Attorney General to provide such an undertaking, but the AG’s Department represented in court by ASG Prasanna Nawanna, offered the concession anyway.
The attempts to refile indictments against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Co could put the already much delayed trial back by months.
Indictments were served against Rajapaksa and six other accused in September 2018. Nearly a year later, the trial – set to take place at the Permanent High Court at Bar, specifically designed to expedite corruption cases – has not got off the ground. The case has been subject to endless delays manipulated by Gotabaya Rajapaks’s lawyers, who have filed at least four different motions seeking to stay the trial, including a most recent six week delay on the basis that the former defence secretary needed to recuperate after cardiac treatment in Singapore. Rajapaksa is yet to return to Sri Lanka since leaving for Singapore in May 2019 for medical treatment.
Dappula De Livera is also pressuring the CID to expedite the hand over of files relating to crucial cases in which investigations are still ongoing, in an apparent bid to rush indictments. Meanwhile the Department is yet to file indictments on dozens of completed investigations including the Ratupaswela shootings, the murder of FTZ worker Roshen Chanaka, the Sajin Vass Gunewardena case, the Welikada prison massacre and scores of others.
Given the AG’s current trajectory, there are serious concerns in the legal sector that De Livera’s aim is to sabotage important criminal investigations into atrocities committed during the tenure of the Rajapaksa regime, in order to ensure the charges do not hold up in a court of law, allowing perpetrators to get off.
Sandra Aponso / July 2, 2019
Failed state!
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Kalu Malli / July 3, 2019
Failed theocratic racist state !!!
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Ben Hurling / July 3, 2019
Failed, maybe! CURSED? For sure.
This country is infested with top civil servants who are totally devoid of any conscience. What so ever!
PS: They lack SPINE too. Only too happy to bootlick their political masters at any given time. ABOMINABLE!
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D. P. / July 2, 2019
I’m not sure whether this assessment is accurate. The current pattern of behavior of the AG seems to suggest a different pattern. My thinking as that MY 3 & his legal team is making a push in two directions simultaneously: Harass anybody who may stand against MY 3 & Use pending cases against MaRa clan to put pressure on SLPP to join SLFP under MY 3’s terms including making MY 3 the joint candidate.
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Craig / July 2, 2019
Yes if you look at the trend- how he has managed to stop all trials from proceeding. Despite being filed 10 months ago in the Permanent Trial-at-Bar, which was set up to conclude cases expeditiously with day-to-day hearings, his trial has never begun.In 2017, he successfully petitioned the Court of Appeal in an ex-parte hearing and secured an order preventing his arrest in the investigation associated with this case. Then earlier this month, he failed to return to Sri Lanka within the time stipulated for him to travel to Singapore. He was then granted an additional 6 week delay in the start of the trial. 4 judges from the country’s apex courts have recused themselves from hearing his cases over the past four years, (in some instances only after having granted orders in his favor). He has secured similar orders from both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal preventing his arrest in a slew of investigations ranging from the ‘MiG Deal’, Lanka Hospitals share price manipulation, Mihin Lanka aircraft leasing and the Avant Garde scandal. One order last year halted a trial from proceeding on a 11 billion corruption charge. What a feat! What a man! How come? Looks like his lawyer is a much feared man inside all of sri lanka’s court rooms? Or has the AG’s dept been somewhat dysfunctional?
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Ganesh / July 2, 2019
The present government under President Srisena came to power to take actions of fraud and corruption , now it seems to be opposite of what they declared to the people of this country .
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Anonymous / July 2, 2019
All these cases need to be taken to the International Criminal Courts just like the cases filled in the US because no action is being taken against the Rajapaksas and his criminal network. All those helping in the cover up of their crimes must be exposed and prosecuted too…
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anonymous / July 2, 2019
You must be rewarded for reading my mind although we are miles apart. I agree with you mate.
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Eagle Eye / July 2, 2019
Ranil was found guilty for his role in torturing and killing thousands of Sinhala youths during JVP terrorism and the Batalanda Commission recommended to strip his civic rights. Chandrika did not take action based on the recommendation of the Commission. If she took action, Ranil should be out of politics. People in this country should curse Chandrika for not stripping Ranil’s civic rights. If she did that, Ranil would not have got the opportunity to do all the unpatriotic things that he is doing now.
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Native Vedda / July 2, 2019
Eagle Blind Eye with a stupid or no brain
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Chronological order of Prime Ministers:
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Ranil Wickremesinghe – 7 May 1993- to -19 August 1994
Chandrika Kumaratunga – 19 August 1994 -to -12 November 1994
Sirimavo Bandaranayake – 14 November 1994 – to -9 August 2000
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake – 10 August 2000 – to – 7 December 2001
Ranil Wickremesinghe – 9 December 2001 – to – 6 April 2004
Mahinda Rajapaksa – 6 April 2004 – to – 19 November 2005
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake – 19 November 2005 – to – 21 April 2010
D. M. Jayaratne – 21 April 2010 – to – 9 January 2015
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Between 19 August 1994 and 9 December 2001 (7 Years SLFP had total control of the state and security apparatuses then from 6 April 2004 to 9 January 2015 (11 years SLFP had had total control of the state and security forces out of which Mahinda was running the show for about 11 years Single handedly, while his brother the former hangman Gota was running his own state within the state for the entire period.
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Could you explain to us as to why the SLFP controlled state machinery did not care to bring any charges against Ranil for ” his role in torturing and killing thousands of Sinhala youths during JVP terrorism” and the Batalanda Commission recommendation of stripping Ranil;’s civic rights never been carried out.
By the way would you be kind enough to provide the link to Batalanda Commission’s report and recommendation.
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Many Sinhala Buddhist fascists found their way into Canada/Australia/USA/Europe and had successfully claimed asylum in those whiteman’s country citing the report. In your case the report would have helped you tremendously to get your VISA.
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Srilal / July 2, 2019
Eagle Eye ,
This article is about Gota and the AG , wonder why you always talk about RW and Batalanda case even after almost 30 odd years ? your responses are getting really boring as you can’t really focus on the hand at issue ;further , ” Yanne koheda malle pol” comes to mind !
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JD / July 2, 2019
Ranil’s best was when he appointed FCID and he got caught first in the net. Why Dappula Livera does not go behind those Gota was not a PM or minister. He was just the SECRETARY. So, go behind Mahinda Rajapakse.
Simply ask why Ranil is spending billions on voters these days. Where did he get that money. Ranil is Minister for Education these days. Ask how come he gave Defence Minister post that fast.
IF goes behind PENTHOUSE RAVI is in the PSC too. But he is a LIAR, got free Penthouses, got millions of money in gunny bags, He is caught as a Money Launderer.
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Mallaiyuran / July 3, 2019
Softy,
Don’t be such a faithless person, man. If Ranil was not there in Temple Tree House on the 9th morning, when Old King was leaving behind the slippers and sprinting away, Ex. Secretary John Kerry’s troops would have gone behind him and stripped even the Dhoti from his waist. Show some respect to Ranil. Unless his F word CID is there not even penny of the $18B may be still remaining in Old Royals’ bank accounts. Take flowers every morning to Ranil and Mangala and offer and pray. Show some faith in Buddhistahama, for God’s Sake.
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Upul Abeyrathne / July 2, 2019
Any way many suspect the legal professionals through out the country.
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Buddhist / July 2, 2019
This is another game played through the AG by the illiterate President.
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Goraka / July 2, 2019
It’s time for the military to take over and jail politicians and their hacks and give back Sri Lanka to their rightful owner – the common people.
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thondamany / July 2, 2019
Anonymous need to notify CBK…………………
Why Dappula is not going behind Ranil on the Bond Scam? He & Kodagoda were prevented from questioning Ranil and instead a questionnaire was sent Jayasuriya did the honours.
Furthermore, the public was prevented from knowing the nature of the questions.
DAPPULA follow up on Ranil.
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srilal / July 2, 2019
“your responses are getting really boring as you can’t really focus on the matter at hand ” should have been instead of “your responses are getting really boring as you can’t really focus on the hand at issue”
Apologies…
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Seyed Niyaz Abdeen / July 3, 2019
This country is in a total mess and what can we expect when it is administered by crooks, fraudsters, manipulators, cheats, murderers, thugs and all of them disguised as politicians, top security officers, legal eagles, judges, monks….you name it and we have it and in addition to that even opportunity seeking powerful foreign countries too are in a melee, like hyenas, to take a share from the poor lions meal.
A lion is a lion and never have I seen a lion with it’s tail raised like a “paraya” dog and that is what is depicted in our national flag, tail raised and exposing his posterior for anyone to poke and that is just what is happening to our beautiful country.
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Estate Labourer / July 3, 2019
SNA: The Sri Lankan Lion enjoys getting buggered! Open to all!
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Nathan / July 3, 2019
Dapula needs a comb and a bottle of hair cream. He is simply confused and disoriented. Poor guy.
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Don / July 3, 2019
I think we are missing a point here.
Everybody seems to miss the Elephant in the Room- Right now, it’s is a perilous Moment of our 2500 year history . The sovereignty of the country is at stake. After 70 years of pussy footing about it, USA is hellbent on establishing a NATO base in Trinco in a great hurry – hook or by crook !
Do we want another Philippine in our hands with prostitution / drug addiction ranking no.1 among the youth of this country ? Do we want this to be the play ground of Indo-Chinese Yanky war games.?
Smart Ass as he was, but this time it is way more sophisticated than “ Good Old Prabha “ever would have been. The CIA has played this game many times over. We are just sitting Ducks for them.
We need nothing short of a Hero to save us from Uncle Sam. I don’t care whether the Cat is Black or White, as long as he catches mice . So, please stop bickering about the past and focus on the problems of today – our very survival as a sovereign nation !
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Estate Labourer / July 3, 2019
A short haircut will obviate the need for a comb and hair cream.
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Don / July 3, 2019
I think we are missing a point here.
Everybody seems to miss the Elephant in the Room- Right now, it’s is a perilous Moment of our 2500 year history . The sovereignty of the country is at stake. After 70 years of pussy footing about it, USA is hellbent on establishing a NATO base in Trinco in a great hurry – hook or by crook !
Do we want another Philippine in our hands with prostitution / drug addiction ranking no.1 among the youth of this country ? Do we want this to be the play ground of Indo-Chinese Yanky war games.?
Smart Ass as he was, but this time it is way more sophisticated than “ Good Old Prabha “ever would have been. The CIA has played this game many times over. We are just sitting Ducks for them.
We need nothing short of a Hero to save us from Uncle Sam. I don’t care whether the Cat is Black or White, as long as he catches mice . So, please stop bickering about the past and focus on the problems of today – our very survival as a sovereign nation !
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Kalu Malli / July 3, 2019
He ‘s got that Boris Johnson look !!!
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K.Pillai / July 3, 2019
The BBS Buddhism founder Gnanansara Thero is singing all the way to………
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Mano / July 4, 2019
The solution is simple, BEG OR BORROW to win the PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
Note, the option steal is not in the list of choice.
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Renu / July 4, 2019
He appears to be uncertain personality with a ruffled head .His actions in the past have been very biased and appeared to be pro Rajapaksa,not quite fit to hold that position
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