Protest outside BC: Suspects get bail

8 May 2015 01:35 pm

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today granted bail to 27 suspects including ten MPs who were produced in Court for contempt of court.

They were identified as those who took part in a demonstration outside the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on April 20 when former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived to record a statement.

The suspects who were released on bail were: Ven. Muruthettuve Ananda Thera, Ven. Medagoda Abayatissa Thera, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, Ven. Vitharandeniye Nanda Thera, Ven. Ahungalle Siri Jinananda Thera, Ven. Biyagama Susila Thera, Ven. Watinapaha Somananda Thera and Ven. Ittakande Saddhatissa Thera and parliamentarians Dallus Alahapperuma, Janaka Priyantha Bandara, Sarath Weerasekera, Roshan Ranasinghe, Jayantha Ketagoda,  Uditha Lokubandara, Gamini Lokuge, Bandula Gunawardena, S.M. Chandrasena, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunge, provincial councillors Udaya Gammanpila, Roger Seneviratne, Jagath Kumara, Sunil Jayamini, Upali Kodikara, PHU member Madumadhawa Aravinda and municipal councillor Ajantha Liyanage.

The Magistrate ordered the suspects to report to the Chief Registrar of the Magistrate’s Court on the last Friday of every month.
He said if the suspects behaved in a manner disrespectful to court their bail will be cancelled and will be remanded.

The defence counsel said that the suspects had not received the restraining order and asked that the case be dismissed.

Court issued notice on Ven. Galabadaatte Gnanasara, who was named as a suspect but was not present in court, to appear on on July 13 when the case will be next taken up. (TFT)