HC denies bail for LTTE suspects in 2008 attempt on Sirisena’s life

By A.J.A. Abeynayake

The Colombo High Court Judge R. S. S. Sapuwidda yesterday (28th) rejected a request for bail, under any conditions, for two suspects linked to an attempt to assassinate then-Minister Maithripala Sirisena in Boralesgamuwa in 2008. The case involves 17 charges, including aiding and abetting an LTTE suicide bomber identified as Sammungrasa Gajabalini.

The suspects, Selvarasa Kirubakaran, also known as “Gosthar” or “Morris,” and Thambayya Prakash, alias “Dhanush,” have been held in remand custody for almost 15 years. Their legal representatives, Suranga Bandara and Asitha Vipulanayake, requested bail, highlighting the prolonged period of detention without resolution.

The Deputy Solicitor General, representing the Attorney General’s Department, opposed the bail request, stating that the suspects had been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and the charges against them had also been made under the PTA. The judge confirmed that steps were being taken to expedite the proceedings and scheduled the examination of evidence for 28, 29, and 30 April 2025.

The Attorney General has charged the two suspects with conspiring to orchestrate the suicide bombing targeting Minister Sirisena. The attack resulted in the deaths of two persons, P. Wijeratne and Don Gunapala Weerasinghe and caused severe injuries to five others. The trial is set to continue on the scheduled dates.