Duminda Silva remanded

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardana yesterday ordered the remand of Western Provincial Councillor Duminda Silva.

Duminda Silva was taken into custody by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) while he was being treated at a private hospital on Tuesday (30) for allegedly causing injuries to an American female sailor and assaulting a security officer of the American Embassy at a night club on May 26.

The Magistrate ordered an identification parade on June 6.

The Colombo Crime Division commenced the investigation on a complaint made by Kariyawasam Ranjith Punchihewa of Ratmalana.

The CCD informed the Magistrate's Court that Duminda Silva was taken into custody for causing injuries to Sigrid Iksha Rivara, a female security officer and for assaulting Wilbur Lon Lamton Solomons who were members of the American Embassy security staff. The CCD informed the Magistrate that the female officer suffered an injury for which she had to have 11 stitches. She suffered a bone fracture as well.

The CCD also informed the Magistrate that they were in possession of a video CD of the incident at the night club and the car park. The Manager, Operating Manager and another employee of the night club made a statement to the CCD.

The CCD also informed court that there were four other suspects to be taken into custody in connection with the incident. The female officer in a statement said she could identify the persons in the brawl and the CCD requested the Court to remand Duminda Silva and order an identification parade.

Defence Counsel Anil Silva objected to the holding of an identification parade submitting that his client was a well known person. His photographs have been published in newspapers. Many of those papers can be browsed through the internet.

He also has a website in his name and those American persons can locate enough pictures of Duminda Silva by any of these means. Therefore the Defence Counsel objected to the holding of an identification parade.The Judge ordered that all participants in the identification parade should resemble Dumida Silva in age and also that they should be bandaged likewise.

Anil Silva, Nalinda Indatissa and Kalinga Indatissa appeared for Defence.