Former MP Premalal Jayasekara granted bail

By Ranjith Rajapaksa

Colombo, April 22 (Daily Mirror) - Former Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekara, who was arrested by the Nuwara Eliya Police on Monday (21) over allegations of threatening a person with a firearm during an incident in the Nuwara Eliya area, was produced before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court today (22).

The suspect was produced before Magistrate Pushpika Jayadasa, who ordered his release on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and two surety bails totalling Rs. 1 million, subject to strict conditions. The Magistrate also ordered Jayasekara to surrender his passport and fixed September 14 for further hearing. The firearm in question was ordered to be retained in court custody as a case production item.

The arrest was made following a complaint lodged with the Nuwara Eliya Police, alleging that Jayasekara had threatened an individual with a pistol during a dispute between two groups, when he had arrived in the area with family members on the same day. Police subsequently took him into custody and produced a B-report before court under Section 486 of the Firearms Ordinance No. 22 of 1996, as amended, citing charges of criminal intimidation and threatening to kill using a weapon.

Appearing for the suspect, Attorneys-at-Law Sandanam Viswani, Darshanee Nanayakkara, and Senior Attorney Suresh Gayan told court that their client had not engaged in any unlawful conduct and urged that he be released on appropriate bail conditions.

Meanwhile, appearing for the complainant, Nuwara Eliya Police Headquarters Chief Inspector P.S.C. Sanjeewa and Criminal Investigation Division OIC Chief Inspector Ravindra Premalal opposed bail, informing court that investigations were still ongoing.

After considering submissions from both parties, Magistrate Jayadasa warned in open court that bail would be revoked and the suspect remanded if any attempts were made to influence complainants or witnesses.

Nuwara Eliya Division Assistant Superintendent of Police Chandana Basnayake informed court that the original firearm licence issued by the Ministry of Defence was not initially in the suspect’s possession. However, subsequent inquiries confirmed that a valid permit had been issued for the pistol following verification with the relevant authorities.