Court Hears Fate of ‘Gampaha Osmand’ as PTA Detention Challenged

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal that a decision on whether further action will be pursued against Osmand Gunasekara, alias "Gampaha Osmand", under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be taken once ongoing investigations are completed.

Gampaha Osmand is currently being held in remand custody over allegations that he aided and abetted the murder of underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa.

The disclosure was made by Deputy Solicitor General Disna Warnakula when a writ petition filed by Gampaha Osmand challenging his detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was taken up before the Court of Appeal.

The petition was considered before a Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Mahen Gopallawa and Annalingam Premshankar.

Meanwhile, Gampaha Osmand was yesterday ordered to be remanded until November 13.

The order was issued when the suspect, who had been held under a detention order by the Colombo Crimes Division until yesterday, was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Producing the suspect before court, the Colombo Crimes Division stated that he had been detained and questioned for a period of 180 days in connection with the investigation.