Man acquitted in 2019 Ellaidhoo resort murder case
Judge Ibrahim Ihsan stated that the only evidence available to prove guilt was a previous statement made by Perera during the investigation.
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The Criminal Court has acquitted Janaka Prasanna Perera, 42, of Jayalath Kodiarchy, who was charged with the murder of a fellow resort employee at Ellaidhoo resort in 2019.
The incident took place on 10 January 2019, at a resort in Ellaidhoo. The case involved a fatal altercation between Perera, a Sri Lankan national, and another Sri Lankan employee, Patham Dilshan de Silva Agampodi, aged 24. The dispute reportedly arose over a disagreement related to a meal.
On 14 July, the Criminal Court ruled in favour of the accused. Judge Ibrahim Ihsan stated that the only evidence available to prove guilt was a previous statement made by Perera during the investigation.
The judgment highlighted that the accused’s earlier confession was obtained under conditions that could not be verified. Perera had claimed he acted in self-defence. The court noted that the audio and video recordings of the confession were unclear, and that the statement was made during a hearing at the Adh. Mahibadhoo Magistrate's Court without legal representation. An interpreter assisted during the session, but the court found that the interpreter had limited understanding of the language used by the accused.
As a result, the court determined that it was not possible to establish whether the act was committed with the intention to kill or in self-defence.
Perera has now been formally acquitted of the charge.
