SF assassination bid trial: Witness confirms LTTE suicide bomber’s stay at suspect’s home

By A.J.A Abeynayake

R.P. Swarnalatha Abeykoon, a witness in a Colombo High Court case against the suspects of the attack on the then-Army Commander Sarath Fonseka in 2006, on Wednesday (29), identified that Durga, the  LTTE suicide bomber involved in the attack, had been staying at the home of the second accused, Shanmugalingam Suriyakumar, whose house was located near her own.

Under the direction of Senior Deputy Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayake, Abeykoon explained that the bomber had stayed at Suriyakumar’s home for some time. Although she could not recall the woman’s name, Abeykoon testified that Suriyakumar’s wife had introduced the bomber as a relative.

Abeykoon further noted that she had recognised the bomber’s face from media coverage of the attack and had confronted Suriyakumar about the woman, observing that he appeared visibly shaken by questioning.

A few years before the attacks Suriyakumar, his wife, their child, and the bomber moved to a rented house in Weliweriya, and Abeykoon had not seen the woman again. She heard that the woman had moved to Colombo to attend a beauty culture training course.

During the Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations in 2006, Suriyakumar’s family returned to his parents’ home near Abeykoon’s residence, but the bomber was absent. Abeykoon sent a meal to the woman, who later called to express her appreciation.

Despite suffering from health issues, Abeykoon appeared in court to provide testimony. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Karunanayake expressed gratitude on behalf of the department and the court for her cooperation.

High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to provide transport for Abeykoon’s return home. The judge also scheduled the next hearing for 17 February and issued a summons for Judicial Medical Officer Dr K. Sirikumara to testify for the prosecution on that date.