Alleged attack on SLIIT student:

SSP’s wife remanded

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The Crime Division conducting investigations into the alleged assault on Malabe SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake yesterday produced Shyama Priyadharshini Perera, wife of former CCD Director Senior SP Vaas Gunawardena, before Kaduwela Additional District Judge Mahanil Prasantha de Silva and remanded till August 31.

She had surrendered to the Police Headquarters yesterday morning through her Lawyers President’s Counsel Denzil Gunaratne and Asoka Weerasuriya. She was later produced before the Kaduwela Additional District Judge after recording lengthy statements from her.

After the lengthy submissions by President’s Counsel Gunaratne, senior defence counsel, the Judge observed that those submissions should have been submitted to court earlier and she should have surrendered to court earlier without dragging on the matter. The incident occurred on August 4 and she surrendered to court after 16 days. This would have been refereed to the Mediation Board and no one would have had to face consequences. Remanding the suspect, the Judge observed that according to Police reports before court the injured student Ramanayake had told police, that suspect Ravindu Gunawardena had given a telephone call while travelling in a police jeep to Amma. This Amma is alleged to have assaulted the injured student at suspect’s house.

There is no evidence before court that the injured student Nipuna Ramanayake had left the hospital, the Judge observed.

At the outset, Chief Inspector O.K.T. Nanayakkara of the Crime Division, Police Headquarters filing a ‘B’ report in connection with the case said Ramanayake had been abducted by several police personnel together with the 12th suspect Ravindu Gunawardena.

While travelling in the Police jeep, Gunawardena had given a telephone call to his mother. The injured student Ramanayake had told police Gunawardena’s mother assaulted him.

CI Nanayakkara said Police are conducting investigations into the telephone calls and objected to the suspect being granted bail.

If the suspect is released on bail there could be a public uproar, Chief Inspector Nanayakkara submitted to court.

President’s Counsel Gunaratne, senior defence counsel, moving for bail in respect of his client said the incident had occurred among two students. This could have been settled amicably without making a big issue.

President’s Counsel Gunaratne said they have assisted investigators from the very inception of the investigations. The real suspects should be dealt with. Civil police personnel had been deployed to Senior SP Vaas Gunawardena as he had conducted several cases against the LTTE, he said

The Senior Defence Counsel submitted that his client is the only person to look after her 87-year-old mother and moved court to grant her bail.

Earlier, 13 suspects including Senior SP Vaas Gunawardena’s son were produced before Kaduwela Additional District Judge Mahanil Prasantha de Silva and remanded till August 31. Crime Division DIG Anura Senanayake assisted by SP Neil Hettiarachchi are conducting investigations.

President’s Counsel Denzil Gunaratne with Asoka Weerasuriya, Buddhika Jayasinghe, Priyaranjana Jayasinghe, Rohitha Rajapaksa, and Rohana Sampath instructed by Ananda Rajapakse appeared for the suspect.