Alleged attack on SLIIT student:

Fourteen suspects further remanded

Sarath Malalasekera

Kaduwela Additional District Judge Mahanil Prasantha de Silva yesterday further remanded the 14 suspects in the alleged attack on the SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake till today, September 1, pending the order in respect of their bail applications.

At the outset, the Judge conducted six identification parades for nearly six hours.

Five of the suspects were identified at the parade including the police officer who recorded the statement of the injured student Nipuna Ramanayake on the day of the incident at the CCD office.

Earlier, the Crime Division conducting investigations into the alleged assault on student Nipuna Ramanayake produced 14 suspects including the wife and son of former CCD Director Vaas Gunawardena. The other suspects, all police personnel, three Sub Inspectors, a Police Sergeant and eight Police constables.

The Crime Division DIG Anura Senanayake who appeared for the prosecution with SP Neil Hettiarachchi submitted to Court that one to six suspects had been involved in the abduction of the injured student Nipuna Ramanayake. The investigators are conducting investigations to ascertain whether the other police suspects who were taken into custody were involved in the abduction of the student Nipuna Ramanayake.

DIG Senanayake also submitted that they are conducting comprehensive investigations into the telephone calls which were alleged to have been taken on the day of the incident by some of the suspects.

DIG Senanayake moved court to order the Medical Officer who treated injured student Nipuna Ramanayake to submit his report to Court on the next date.

President’s Counsel Denzil Gunaratne who appeared with Asoka Weerasuriya for the defence, moving for bail said that possessing a weapon by a Police officer is not an offence under the Firearms Ordinance.

Senior Defence Counsel Gunaratne submitted that court could consider bail on any condition for the suspects. The injury on the student was not that serious, the Senior Defence Counsel added.

Senior Attorney Jayekumar Thangavelu who appeared for some of the suspects also moved court to grant bail for his suspects.

Senior Attorney Nalin Indatissa who appeared with several other Attorneys for the aggrieved party objected to the suspects being released on bail and said that a weapon had been used during the incident. Using a weapons is a non- bailable offence, he said.

The parents of the injured student Nipuna Ramanayake were also present during the proceedings. Police Crime Headquarters OIC, Chief Inspector O.K.T. Nanayakkara with OIC Athurugiriya, Chief Inspector Anil Jayantha, Inspector Rajapaksa and SI R.H. Liyanarachchi also appeared for the prosecution.