The Lawyer Basic has determined to not file indictments towards former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in reference to the assault on the ‘GotaGoGama’ protest website at Galle Face on 9 Could 2022, the Sunday Occasions has reported.
On the time of the assault, Mahinda Rajapaksa was serving as Prime Minister within the authorities of his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was then President.
The report states that the Lawyer Basic has decided that the proof submitted by the investigating officers is inadequate to file prices towards him.
Nonetheless, the Lawyer Basic has really useful that indictments be filed towards 34 different suspects.
The report states that the choice was based mostly on eyewitness testimony, circumstantial proof and professional evaluation of video footage recorded on the scene of the assault.
Of the 34 suspects, former State Minister Sanath Nishantha, political activist Dan Priyasad and former commerce union chief Wasantha Hadapangoda have reportedly since died.
Accordingly, a single indictment containing 327 prices is anticipated to be filed earlier than the Colombo Excessive Courtroom towards the remaining 31 suspects.
The fees are reported to incorporate being members of an illegal meeting, tried homicide and inflicting grievous harm.
It has additionally been reported that Lawyer Basic Parinda Ranasinghe has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to nominate a three-member Excessive Courtroom Bench (Trial-at-Bar) to listen to the case.
Amongst these anticipated to be indicted are former Minister Johnston Fernando, former Inspector Basic of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, former Mayor of Moratuwa Saman Lal Fernando and former Member of Parliament Milan Jayatilake.
In November 2025, the Lawyer Basic’s Division knowledgeable the Supreme Courtroom that 31 suspects had been recognized in reference to the GotaGoGama assault and that steps had been being taken to file indictments towards them.
On the time, the court docket was additionally knowledgeable that felony prices wouldn’t be filed towards Mahinda Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa.
