Devananda to be grilled via video conference

An intimation to this effect was sent to the prosecution by Fourth Additional Sessions Judge M Shanti stating that video conferencing arrangements were made for trial from March 5 and directed that prosecution witnesses in the case should be produced on that day without fail.

It may be recalled that Devananda, the then member of Eelam People’s Revoluitonary Liberation Front (EPRLF), was cited as one of the accused in the case relating to the killing of a person in a shootout at Choolaimedu area in the city in 1986. Since Devananda was involved in three criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, rioting, criminal intimidation and kidnap, the Sessions Court had in 1994 declared him as a proclaimed offender and an absconding accused. 

Being a minister in the Mahinda Rajapakse government, he had also sought amnesty under the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka accord. He was part of a diplomatic delegation that visited India in June 2010. However, the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by him as Minister ensured that he was not arrested during that visit.

Though a non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against Devananda, he moved the Madras High Court seeking cancellation of the NBW.

The High Court, while allowing his plea, had on September 2014 permitted him to participate in the trial proceedings through video conferencing from the office of the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo as and when required.

Since the other accused in the case were at large, the trial was not held. However, following a plea by the prosecution filed in October last year, the case was split paving the way for the trial proceedings against Devananda.