Sri Lankan court orders CID to record statements from former deputy minister and three others

: A Sri Lankan court today (14) directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to record statements from a former deputy minister and three other suspects for allegedly threatening the jury currently hearing a case against them.



Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickremasinghe asked the CID officials to record statements from ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) politician Chandana Kathriarachchi and three other suspects in a murder case for allegedly threatening seven members of the jury hearing the murder case.
The CID has also been directed by court to provide security to the members of the jury. A seven-member jury consisting of six females is participating in the hearing.
Kathriarachchi and three others have been accused of murdering a political opponent in Piliyandala, K. Chandraratna on August 24, 1996 during a quarrel that took place at a cooperative election.