Python dance sparks legal action; suspect released on bail

By Bhagya Silva   

The Colombo Additional Magistrate H.D.D.J. Premaratne yesterday ordered that the suspect, a young woman accused of engaging in a dance performance while holding a python around her neck in a cruel manner during a ‘Avurudu Kumara Kumariya’ pageant held in the Colombo area, be released on bail. 

Appearing on behalf of the suspect, her counsel submitted that she had acted without proper knowledge of the law, which had led to the incident. The counsel further informed court that the suspect is willing to cooperate with ongoing investigations and accordingly requested that she be granted bail.   

Considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect be released on a personal bail of Rs. 500,000.   

The court was earlier informed of the incident following submissions made by the Department of Wildlife Conservation regarding videos currently circulating on social media.   

The investigation officers further informed court that the python in question had been provided to the suspect by an individual from the Buttala area. They also stated that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the said individual.   

Subsequently, the Magistrate had, yesterday, ordered the arrest of the suspect. She appeared before the Department of Wildlife Conservation today and was thereafter produced before court. The officer appearing on behalf of the Department of Wildlife Conservation also sought court permission to record statements from model Chandimal Jayasinghe, who is alleged to have organized the event, as well as from the cameraman who recorded the incident.   

Presenting facts to court, Wildlife Department investigation officers stated that the event had been organized recently at the Royal Marks Arena premises in Colombo for the selection of the Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya.   

They further stated that during a dance segment in the 15th round of the event organized by Chandimal Jayasinghe, a young woman named Methmi Hiranya had performed while holding a python around her neck, thereby subjecting the animal to cruelty.   

The officers also informed court that the suspect was identified following an investigation launched after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media.   

Having considered the facts presented, the Magistrate ordered that the case be called again on the 15th.