Bail Refused for LTTE Bombing Suspects After 16 Years in Remand

 

Two accused in 2008 suicide bomb plot against Maithripala Sirisena still behind bars as trial finally begins in 2024.

Colombo – In a startling revelation that underscores Sri Lanka's long-standing legal delays, two suspects remanded in connection with a 2008 suicide bomb attack targeting then-Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena have been in custody for nearly 16 years without trial — and were this week denied bail as proceedings finally got underway.

Appearing before the Colombo High Court on Wednesday, Selvarajah Kirubakaran, alias “Morris”, and Thambiayah Prakash, alias “Danush”, requested to be released on bail — a plea that was firmly rejected by High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuvida following opposition from State Counsel Dhammika Udawatte.

The accused, believed to be members of the LTTE, face 17 charges, including aiding and abetting suicide bomber Sammugarasa Gajavalini, who attempted to assassinate Mr. Sirisena in Boralesgamuwa on October 9, 2008. The attack killed four of Mr. Sirisena’s security personnel.

Though the bombing occurred at the height of Sri Lanka’s civil war, it took until December 18, 2023 for formal indictments to be filed, and only in 2024 were they served. The trial finally began this week — a 16-year legal limbo that has raised serious concerns about judicial delays, due process, and the balance between national security and individual rights.

Sirisena Testifies: "I Was Shaken"

Testifying in court, former President Maithripala Sirisena recounted the moments leading up to the attack. He said his driver had accelerated after noticing a suspicious woman, later identified as the bomber, walking toward the vehicle while listening to a phone call.

“She couldn’t reach my car thanks to the driver's quick action,” Mr. Sirisena said. “Instead, she detonated herself near the backup vehicle.”

The explosion took the lives of four of his security officers. Mr. Sirisena also revealed that no police officer ever recorded his statement after the incident and that he suffered from severe stress for weeks.

Bail Denied Amid Trial Launch

The defence team urged the court to release the suspects on bail “under any condition,” arguing that the men had already been held for an unprecedented amount of time without a formal trial. However, State Counsel Udawatte insisted that their release could jeopardize the proceedings, now finally in motion after years of stagnation.

Judge Sapuvida agreed, stating that bail would not be appropriate at this critical stage of the trial.

Legal Experts Raise Questions

The case has sparked debate within legal circles, with some questioning how such a high-profile terrorism case involving an attempted political assassination could languish for over a decade before entering court. Human rights advocates point to the prolonged remand period as a violation of fair trial rights, even in cases involving national security.

The next hearing has been scheduled for September 1, extending an already years-long wait for justice and raising difficult questions about the pace and priorities of the Sri Lankan legal system.