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Sailors smash up hotel in Mabole

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka

A group of over 100 sailors went on the rampage smashing up an eating house and damaging personal property at the Mabole junction in Wattala on Sunday night.

According to Police, the sailors- all from the Welisara Camp had come in a bus and several jeeps. The attack stemmed from a clash earlier in the day at the eating house.

The suspects had also damaged a vehicle worth Rs. 2.5 million of the hotel owner. Several persons including an infant were also injured in the attack, Wattala Police said.

According to Police, two sailors had come in a car belonging to the Sri Lanka Navy to have dinner in the Hotel. However, later they had got embroiled in an argument with two others who had also come for dinner at the hotel. The argument developed into a full blown clash. During the fight two unknown persons had damaged the Navy vehicle and attacked the two sailors, Wattala OIC, S. A. S. Suraweera told the Daily News.

Thereafter, vehicles carrying hundreds of sailors in civies had arrived on the scene and run amok smashing up the hotel and the van of the hotel owner. They have also damaged nearby houses as well. Damage to the vehicle alone is over Rs. 300,000, Police said.

The conduct of the sailors had drawn strong protest from the public in the area. However, later things were settled amicably through the intervention of the Wattala OIC, S. A. S. Suraweera.

Navy Officers had agreed to pay damages according to Police. Contacted by the Daily News Navy Spokesman Captain Jayantha Perera denied any agreement to pay compensation.

"We are conducting inquiries into the incident. Already five sailors are under arrest" he added.

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