SLIIT student assault case:

Four cops released, 10 others re-remanded

Sarath Malalasekera

Four policemen who were remanded in connection with the alleged assault on the SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake were released by Kaduwela Additional District Judge R.A. Ranaraja on a direction by the Attorney General yesterday. The other ten suspects including the wife and son of former CCD Director Senior SP Vaas Gunawardena were further remanded till September 29.

The four suspects who were released are Attapattu Sarathchandra, P.B. Dinesh Shamal Dayawansa, A.P. Priyantha Sanjeewa and D.M. Kelum Ranga Dissanayake.

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

After lengthy submissions by the Senior Defence Counsel Asoka Weerasuriya, DIG Anura Senanayake and Senior Attorney Hemantha Wettasinghe, who watched the interest of injured student’s family members, the Judge directed the investigators to obtain advice from the Attorney General and submit a report.

Crime Division DIG Anura Senanayake who appeared for the prosecution with SP Niel Hettiarachchi submitting a ‘B’ report said the Attorney General had advised them to release four suspects who were taken into custody in connection with the alleged assault. The investigations had revealed that they were not involved in the assault or abduction of Ramanayake.

DIG Senanayake said they are investigating into several telephone calls alleged to have been given to SP Gunawardena and his wife while travelling in the police jeep with student Nipuna Ramanayake. Those are not threatening calls, DIG Senanayake said.

Investigations had not revealed that Senior SP Vaas Gunawardena had been involved in any of the issues to frame charges against him.

But the dossier of the investigations had been forwarded to the Attorney General and a reply was being awaited to continue with the investigations.