Gota Gives Virtual Testimony in Long-Running Lalith-Kugan Disappearance Case

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today (29) after providing evidence online in connection with the long-running case concerning the disappearance of Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan.

The case is being heard before Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar, who today ordered that further recording of evidence be continued on November 27.

Rajapaksa had been issued notice in 2019 to appear before court and provide evidence in relation to the case filed by the relatives of Lalith and Kugan, who disappeared in Jaffna on December 9, 2011.

Despite the notice, the former President had not previously appeared before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court.

When the matter was taken up on February 6 this year, Rajapaksa's lawyers requested permission for him to provide testimony virtually.

The court subsequently granted permission on June 2, allowing him to give evidence through online proceedings.

When the case was called today, the Jaffna Magistrate further directed that two lawyers would be permitted to appear alongside Gotabaya Rajapaksa while he provided evidence through the virtual platform.