Shani Abeysekara’s bail application to be considered on 17 March

The Court of Appeal has ordered that the revision bail applications filed by former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara and former Sub Inspector of CID Sugath Rohana Mendis attached to the Embilipitiya Police be summoned on 17 March.

The petitions were called before a panel of Appeal Court Judges comprising justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and R. Gurusinghe on Monday.

Attorney-at-Law Viran Corea, appearing for the petitioner, requested the court give a very short date for consideration of the petition as it has been filed considering an urgent need.

Accordingly, the bench directed the counsel for the petitioner to summon the petition for consideration on 17 March and to take steps to present facts in that regard on that day.

Abeysekara and Mendis were remanded by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court on suspicion of fabricating evidence in a case filed against former DIG Vass Gunawardena and several others.

The defendants filed a revision bail application in the Gampaha High Court seeking their release on bail. However they were further remanded after the Gampaha High Court rejected their revision bail applications on 9 December.

Accordingly, the defendants have filed a petition in the Court of Appeal seeking reversal of the Gampaha High Court’s decision and their release on bail.