The Attorney General has decided not to indict former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa over the May 2022 attack on protesters at Gotagogama, having deemed the evidence submitted by investigators insufficient to charge him, The Sunday Times reported.
The report said indictments were recommended against 34 other suspects based on eyewitness accounts, circumstantial evidence and expert analysis of video footage from the scene. Three have since died: former State Minister Sanath Nishantha, political activist Dan Priyasad and former trade union leader Wasantha Hadapangoda.
A single indictment is expected to be filed against the remaining 31 suspects in the Colombo High Court. They are expected to face 327 counts, including membership of an unlawful assembly, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has also asked Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to appoint a Trial-at-Bar to hear the case.
Those expected to be indicted reportedly include former Minister Johnston Fernando, former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, former MP Milan Jayathilake, former Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Opposition Leader Amal Pushpakumara De Silva, former Colombo Municipal Council Opposition Leader Ajantha Liyanage, former municipal councillor Mahinda Kahandagama and Asanka Nalaka Wijesinghe, known as “Arabi Wasantha”.
