Mattakkuliya Police attack:

CCD produces 18 suspects for identification parade

Sarath Malalasekera

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) investigating the attack on the Mattakkuliya Police station yesterday produced 18 suspects out of 35 before the Colombo Additional Magistrate for an identification parade. CCD DIG Anura Senanayake said the 35 suspects were arrested in addition to others arrested earlier.

The CCD earlier arrested 176 suspects including several women and produced them before Colombo Additional Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara. After lengthy submissions by the CCD officials and the Counsel for the suspects the Magistrate granted each suspect Rs 50,000 personal bail.

Granting bail, the Magistrate directed them to appear in Court again on July 28.

The Magistrate also directed investigators to file a comprehensive report in connection with their investigations on the next date.

Senior SP Ranaweera who appeared for the prosecution with CCD OIC Hemantha Dickovita filed a report in connection with investigations into the Mattakkuliya Police Station attack and said three suspects now in custody had weapons in their possession.

The other suspects had damaged the public property.

Attorneys Chandra Senanayake, Sanjay Gamage, Gunaratne Wanninayake, Anton Senanayake, Mervyn Silva, Weerasena Ranabahu, Hussain Azar and Upul Priyasantha appeared for the suspects.

The case will be called again July 28.