1999 election violence: A’pura Mayor, four others remanded

• Plaint taken up in Thambuttegama Magistrate’s Court when suspects surrendered to the police through their lawyers

By Upali Ananda 

Thambuttegama Acting Magistrate Pushpapani Wickramasinghe yesterday remanded Anuradhapura Mayor P. Somadasa and four others for causing damage of more than Rs.30 million to the house of UNP district membership promotional officer and Kalawewa electorate campaign manager Ananda Weragoda during the 1999 presidential election campaign. The damage was caused by hurling a grenade at it.  

The other remanded suspects are former North Central Provincial Council Chairman T.M. R. Siripala, Thalawa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Indika Nuwan Tennakoon, Rajanganaya Pradeshiya Sabha Deputy Chairman Saman Nilmini and Grama Niladhari Jagath Chandrasiri. 
The plaint regarding this case was taken up in the Thambuttegama Magistrate’s Court when the suspects surrendered to the police through their lawyers. 
Although former Thambuttegama Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe had on two previous occasions ordered the police to arrest and produce the suspects in court, it had not been carried out. 
The police investigation had revealed that former NCP Chairman T.M.R. Siripala and the suspects had committed this attack during the 1999 presidential election campaign. 
After this government came to power, Ananda Weragoda had made a fresh complaint regarding the incident to IGP Pujith Jayasundara. Thereafter, investigations into the incident had recommenced and the police had filed a report through a motion. The extracts of the investigations had been sent to the Attorney General (AG). On examining the extracts, the AG had directed the Thambuttegama Police to arrest the suspects and produce them in court. 

• Extracts of the investigations had been sent to AG
• After this Govt. came to power, Mr. Weragoda had made a fresh complaint
• Ex-NCP Chairman, suspects, launched attack during 1999 presidential election campaign