Magistrate warns addl. government analyst

The additional magistrate of Mount Lavinia warned an additional government analyst yesterday, observing that witnesses had no right to call judges and inquire about cases.

Additional Magistrate Ms. Dharshika Wimalasiri made this remark following several calls she had received from the analyst with regard to a report on a sample of coconut oil the analyst had issued to court.

In this case Adamjee and Lukmanjee Sons Limited, who had allegedly produced the coconut oil in question, and Perera Stores of Attidiya who had sold the oil were cited as respondents by the Health Unit of the Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council.

Court imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on Perera Stores which pleaded guilty to the charges.

The government analyst had, in a second report to the municipal council, stated that the coconut oil was not adulterated and that she had issued the first report by mistake. When the second report was produced in court, the additional magistrate had issued notice on the analyst.

When she appeared in court yesterday, the additional magistrate warned her severely.