President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the Defence Secretary to take immediate steps to send MP “Kudu Duminda” overseas. Duminda is receiving treatment for severe injuries to his head sustained during the shooting incident in Mulleriyawa on October 8th, it is learnt.

The President believes that sending Duminda overseas would help resolve the dissention growing amongst some members in the government against the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachadra.

Therefore, all measures are being taken to together with Duminda’s family members to send him overseas. The President visited Kudud Duminda at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital yesterday before he was taken overseas.

A special air craft has already been identified to transport Duminda and two specialist doctors along with four nurses are to accompany him.

Although Duminda was initially to be taken to either Singapore or the US for medical treatment, it has now been decided to take him to a private hospital in England.

However, Duminda has not yet received court permission to travel overseas. Bharatha’s driver has already given evidence in court that Duminda was directly responsible for the murder. Duminda is therefore a respondent in the case and needs court permission to travel overseas.

A close relative of Duminda Silva told us that the B report presented to court by the CID that is investigating into Bharatha’s murder has not listed Duminda as a suspect.