Lalith-Kugan case: Evidence recorded from former President Gotabaya

The case regarding the disappearance of Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan, two Frontline Socialist Party activists who went missing in Jaffna, was taken up for hearing today (29) at the Jaffna Magistrate's Court, and in connection with it, former President and former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave his testimony online from the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

These two individuals, who were frontline activists in forming the Frontline Socialist Party after leaving the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, disappeared in Jaffna on December 09, 2011. Following a Habeas Corpus petition filed in the Court of Appeal in the same year regarding their disappearance, the investigation into the facts was assigned to the Jaffna Magistrate's Court. Although the Jaffna court had previously issued summons to the former President to give evidence in this case, considering security concerns, he was granted permission by the court to testify online from Colombo.

Presenting facts before the court, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that he did not have a clear memory of the incident as it occurred a very long time ago. He further explained that not all information received by security forces directly reaches the Secretary of Defence, and while individuals may disappear for various reasons, the relevant institutions take action, so not every disappearance is brought to the attention of the National Security Council.

The former Secretary of Defence further stated in his testimony that within the National Security Council, which comprises the President's Secretary, the Prime Minister, the commanders of the three armed forces, the Inspector General of Police, and the heads of intelligence agencies, he only carried out coordination activities between institutions as a civilian officer. He emphasized that he had no legal authority to intervene in direct military or police operations on the ground and had not given instructions for any wrongdoing. He also stated that the allegations of disappearances and abductions made at the time were merely propaganda aimed at discrediting the country for political gain.

During the former President's testimony, the Frontline Socialist Party organized a silent protest in front of the Hulftsdorp Court Complex in Colombo, demanding the truth be revealed for the disappeared. Speaking to the media, Pubudu Jayagoda, the education secretary of the party, stated that it was a result of years of continuous legal struggle that the former President had to testify before the court in this manner, and that their party would continue legal action until justice is served.

The Jaffna Magistrate's Court decided to postpone the further hearing of evidence in this case until November 27, and ordered Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear again before the Colombo court on that day.