The Attorney General has decided not to indict former President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the May 2022 attack on ‘Gota Go Home’ protesters at Galle Face during the ‘Aragalaya’ protests, according to The Sunday Times.
At the time of the attack, Mahinda Rajapaksa was serving as Prime Minister in the government led by his brother, then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The attack left several protesters seriously injured. According to the report, a decision was made not to indict Mahinda Rajapaksa after it was concluded that the evidence submitted by investigators was insufficient to bring charges against him.
However, although no charges will be filed against the then Prime Minister, indictments have been recommended against 34 other suspects based on eyewitness statements, circumstantial evidence and expert analysis of video footage recorded at the scene.
Three of those 34 suspects have since died. They have been identified as former State Minister Sanath Nishantha, political activist Dan Priyasad and former trade union leader Wasantha Handapangoda.
The remaining 31 suspects are expected to face a single indictment before the Colombo High Court.
They are expected to face 327 charges, including membership of an unlawful assembly, attempted murder and causing grievous injuries.
The Sunday Times further reports that Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to appoint a three-member High Court bench to hear the case.
Among those expected to be indicted are former Minister Johnston Fernando, former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, former Member of Parliament Milan Jayatilake, and several other former politicians and activists.
