By T. Farook Thajudeen
Two Pettah cassette sellers yesterday admitted having duplicated a CD containing music of veteran musician Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa, before Colombo Additional Magistrate Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma.
The suspects, Vijitha Chandrasiri Paranawithana and Kamal Piyasiri Paranawithana, both of Nawala, were produced before the magistrate by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), alleging that they, the owners of Vijitha Trade Centre of Front Street, Pettah, had fraudulently duplicated copies of a CD of music maestro Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa and sold the duplicated copies for Rs. 500 each to the public. The CCD also complained that the suspects had obtained a photograph of Dr. Kemadasa by misleading him and used it as the cover photograph for the fake copies of the CD while misleading the unsuspecting public to believe they were originals from the maestro.
Following a complaint made by Dr. Khemadasa, the CCD had obtained a search warrant from court and recovered the fake copies during a search carried out at Vijitha Trade Centre.
Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana appearing with the CCD for the prosecution, submitted that Dr. Khemadasa was suffering from nephritis and had undergone kidney transplant surgery. The money needed for the surgery had been raised with much effort and difficulty. This particular CD was produced by Dr. Kemadasa in 1980 with the intention of building ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka, while undergoing many hardships and difficulties. All the artistes who contributed songs for it had volunteered their time and effort.
Attorneys-at-Law Chandra Liyanarachchi and Lilamani Liyanarachchi said the suspects admitted to having pirated the CD of Dr.Kemadasa and were willing to plead guilty on a future call date and therefore requested court to enlarge them on bail.
The magistrate enlarged them on Rs 500,000 personal bail and warned them to appear in court on May 23.
DM
Two Pettah cassette sellers yesterday admitted having duplicated a CD containing music of veteran musician Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa, before Colombo Additional Magistrate Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma.
The suspects, Vijitha Chandrasiri Paranawithana and Kamal Piyasiri Paranawithana, both of Nawala, were produced before the magistrate by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), alleging that they, the owners of Vijitha Trade Centre of Front Street, Pettah, had fraudulently duplicated copies of a CD of music maestro Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa and sold the duplicated copies for Rs. 500 each to the public. The CCD also complained that the suspects had obtained a photograph of Dr. Kemadasa by misleading him and used it as the cover photograph for the fake copies of the CD while misleading the unsuspecting public to believe they were originals from the maestro.
Following a complaint made by Dr. Khemadasa, the CCD had obtained a search warrant from court and recovered the fake copies during a search carried out at Vijitha Trade Centre.
Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana appearing with the CCD for the prosecution, submitted that Dr. Khemadasa was suffering from nephritis and had undergone kidney transplant surgery. The money needed for the surgery had been raised with much effort and difficulty. This particular CD was produced by Dr. Kemadasa in 1980 with the intention of building ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka, while undergoing many hardships and difficulties. All the artistes who contributed songs for it had volunteered their time and effort.
Attorneys-at-Law Chandra Liyanarachchi and Lilamani Liyanarachchi said the suspects admitted to having pirated the CD of Dr.Kemadasa and were willing to plead guilty on a future call date and therefore requested court to enlarge them on bail.
The magistrate enlarged them on Rs 500,000 personal bail and warned them to appear in court on May 23.
DM
