Rape of medical doctor in Anuradhapura: Victim did not appear for identification parade

By Upali Ananda
The suspect arrested in connection with the sexual assault and rape of a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has been further remanded until March 24 after being presented before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court yesterday. 
The identification parade of the former army soldier suspected of raping the doctor was scheduled to be held yesterday, but Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Nalaka Sanjeewa Jayasuriya ordered that the identification parade be postponed until March 24 as the victim doctor did not appear before the court for the identification parade, which led to the postponement of the parade. The accused, Nilantha Manduranga Ratnayake, a former army soldier and a resident of Galnewa New Town, was arrested in the Nidikumbhayaya area of Galnewa last weekMeanwhile, the Chief Magistrate, who ordered the remand of the suspect, further ordered the Anuradhapura Prison Superintendent to present the suspect for a re-identification parade on March 24. 
The Magistrate also ordered the Police to take necessary steps to summon the complainant doctor for the identification parade on that day. No lawyer appeared on behalf of the suspect, a former army soldier.