May 03, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice, Preethi Padman Surasena, has constituted a permanent Trial-at-Bar bench to take up the long-delayed case concerning the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
The three-judge panel, drawn from the High Court, will comprise Justices Nayana Seneviratne, Nalin Hewawasam and Lakmali Hewawasam.
The move is seen as an effort to expedite proceedings in a case that has remained unresolved for well over a decade.
Ekneligoda, a political cartoonist and writer, vanished on the night of January 24, 2010 under circumstances that have since drawn both local and international concern. Despite multiple investigations and legal efforts over the years, definitive answers about his fate have yet to emerge.
Legal observers note that the appointment of a Trial-at-Bar—typically reserved for complex or high-profile matters—signals the judiciary’s intention to bring greater focus and urgency to the case.
The bench is expected to hear evidence, examine witness testimony, and address outstanding legal questions surrounding the alleged abduction.
More than sixteen years on, the case continues to stand as one of the country’s most prominent unresolved disappearances, with ongoing calls from rights groups and the public for clarity, accountability, and closure.
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