Ex-National Intelligence Chief not a witness - AG

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Attorney General on Wednesday (15) told the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar that Former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis will not be called in as a witness in the case filed against Ex-Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando who is charged with failing to take action to prevent the 2019 April terror attacks from taking place.

On Wednesday (15) Sisira Mendis, the 3rd witness for the prosecution was present in Court, and President's Counsel Shanaka Ranasinhe representing Mendis produced a medical report to the court.

The President's Counsel noted that the Medical Report was obtained on the 28th of October 2019, and based on this report his client had provided evidence to the Presidential Commission, and was present in court on Wednesday (15), to provide evidence as a witness.

Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana De Silva appearing for the Attorney General requested the court to call for a fresh medical report to determine if the witness was in a suitable mental state to testify in the court.

The bench of the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar noted that based on the Medical Report that was produced to the court, it was evident that the witness was not suffering from any mental issue, and therefore, there was nothing preventing from recording the evidence from the witness.

The Deputy Solicitor General has requested the court for a recess to inform the court if the witness will be called to record evidence, and following the recess, the DSG told the Court that Former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendia will not be called as a witness in this case.

Further examination of the case was postponed to 18th January 2022.