Two UNP Provincial Councillors, eight others remanded

Shiromi ABEYSINGHE

UNP Provincial Councillors Maithri Guneratne, Shiral Laktilake together with eight others were yesterday remanded on the orders of Nugegoda Magistrate Rohana Anura Kumara Herath for allegedly conducting themselves in an unruly manner and inciting attacks on Sirikotha resulting in damage to a vehicle of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during Monday’s leadership and party post election. They were remanded till January 2.

The magistrate also ordered Prison officials to provide special security to the suspects on a request made by the Defence. The others arrested were Subash Ravi Jayawardena, Chandima Nayanajith, Ariyaratne Santiago, Ravindralal Perera, Roshan Indhika Silva, Mudalige Dhashika Maduranga, Paul Fernanado and Aruna Shantha Samarawickrama.

Crimes OIC of the Mirihana Police T. J. B. Herath told court that during Monday’s election an angry crowd of between 500 and 600 stormed the Sirikotha premises, breaking through the boundary fence and throwing stones at the building and vehicles parked. This resulted in damage to the Budhumedura, and roof of the building. Five vehicles parked in the compound were also damaged, including that of the Leader of the Opposition. The driver of the vehicle had made a complaint to the police in this regard.

He said the suspects were produced before court for acting provocatively to incite violence and for being members of an, unlawful assembly. The OIC maintained that the release of the suspects on bail could lead to further clashes between the two factions resulting in a breach of the peace and that since there was sufficient evidence against the suspects to order that they be remanded.

To a question by the magistrate that if damage was caused to the vehicle of the Opposition Leader does this not fall under the Public Property Act, the police officer said that investigations in this regard were continuing and that they are yet to make an estimate of the damage.

Counsel for defendants Anil de Silva moved for bail on the grounds that the matter was a bailable offence under the Penal Code and that there was no basis to assume that a breach of the peace would ensue.

The magistrate observed that he was not concerned with the political environment surrounding the incident, questioning if an attack on any location did not constitute a breach of the peace. He further queried as to what was the reason for such a large gathering, if the election was confined only to the Working Committee.