The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday granted anticipatory bail to the UNP Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) member Kithsiri Rajapaksha in connection with a case filed against him on charges of assaulting and obstructing a CMC officer from carrying out his duties.
 

While granting anticipatory bail to the CMC member, Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne directed the Slave Island police that Mr. Rajapaksha be released on a cash bail of Rs.5,000 and two sureties of Rs.50,000 each if he was arrested on alleged charges. The Magistrate further ordered the CMC member that a statement regarding the incident be given immediately to the Slave Island police. 

 

The CMC member filed an anticipatory bail application in Court to pre-empt the possibility of his arrest on charges of non-bailable offence.

 

In his petition, the CMC member cited the OIC of the Slave Island Police Station as respondent. In a case before the Colombo Fort Magistrate, the Slave Island Police alleged that the CMC member Kithsiri Rajapaksha had allegedly assaulted Mohideen Mohammed Ramesh a director attached to the CMC’s playgrounds. 

 

Police informed Court that they had conducted investigations to arrest CMC member and thereby police officers were sent to Suduwella, Maradana in find the suspect and he was still absconding. 

 

Filing the anticipatory bail application, CMC member stated that he was assigned to organise the Independence Day celebration activities which were organized by the CMC. He stated that he went to the office of the CMC playgrounds director located at Slave Island and made a request regarding national flags and iron bars which were required for the Independence Day celebration. 

 

He further stated that when he made a request for those items, the playground director and he exchanged a few words. He further stated that the director had made a false complaint with Slave Island Police alleging that he assaulted him and obstructed him from carrying out his duties. 

 

Finally, the petitioner moved court that an order is issued on the respondent, to be released on an anticipatory bail if the petitioner was arrested over the alleged charges. Appearing on behalf of the petitioner counsel Jayantha Dias Nanayakkara with R. Ranjith Lakmal submitted in court that a false complaint had been made against their client over a political dispute. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)