SLIIT case:

Suspects refused bail

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Kaduwela Additional District Judge Mahanil Prasantha de Silva yesterday refused an application for bail in respect of the 14 suspects in the alleged attack on SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake and further remanded till September 15.

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

Refusing the bail application the Judge observed that according to the reports filed by the investigators before court there is evidence that the student had been abducted and assaulted in a house with a revolver by the police suspects.

“This court has no power to grant bail for the suspects who had used firearms. Only the High Court has power to grant bail to the suspects,” the Judge observed.

Answering the Judge DIG Anura Senanayake said that according to the investigations conducted by the Police upto date there is no evidence to suggest that former CCD Director Vaas Gunawardena had any knowledge about the whole incident.

There is not an iota of evidence to connect Senior SP Vaas Gunawardena that he was involved in a conspiracy or in the attack on student Nipuna Ramanayake by the suspects, DIG Senanayake said.

The Judge further observed that the investigations are being conducted by the police and not by the court. Therefore the investigators should file a report to court about the suspects who are involved in the whole episode.

On an application by DIG Senanayake the Judge directed the investigators to obtain advice from the Attorney General to ascertain whether the former CCD Director Vaas Gunawardena had aided and abetted the suspects in the entire issue.

The Crime Division DIG who appeared for the prosecution with SP Neil Hettiarachchi submitted to court that the first to sixth suspects had been involved in the abduction of the injured student Nipuna Ramanayake.

The investigators are conducting investigation to ascertain whether any other police personnel are involved in the abduction and attack on the student. The DIG also submitted that they are conducting comprehensive investigation into the telephone calls which were alleged to have been made on the day of the incident by some of the suspects while travelling in the Police jeep.

The Court also directed the Medical officer who treated the injured Ramanayake to submit his report to court on the next date.

President’s Counsel Denzil Gunaratne appeared with Asoka Weerasuriya and Buddhika Jayasinghe instructed by Ananda Rajapaksa appeared for the suspects.

Senior Attorney Jayekumar Thangavelu appeared for some of the suspects.

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.

Attorneys Hemapala Ekanayake, D.G.P. Karunaratne, Luxmi Diddeniya, Priyanka Abeyratne watched the interest of the injured student.