Four protesters including actors Jehan Appuhamy and Jagath Manuwarna held in remand custody for allegedly causing damages to Public Property while engaging in a protest on June 9 were today ordered to be released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate.

 

In a motion filed before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, defence counsel sought bail on behalf of seven suspects who were originally remanded on Wednesday (22).

 

Accordingly, Jehan Appuhamy, Jagath Manuwarna, Dhammika Munasinghe and Eranga Gunasekera were ordered to be released on a surety bail of Rs.500,000 each on the basis that the alleged offences committed by the suspects would not come under the purview of Public Property Act.

 

However, the Magistrate refused to grant bail to Youth activists Rathindu Senaratne alias ‘Ratta’, Lahiru Weerasekara and Ven. Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thera since they are having several other pending court cases. They were ordered to be remanded till July 1.

 

A group of lawyers including President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Senior Counsel Kaushalya Navaratne, Upul Kumarapperuma, Darshana Kuruppu, Amila Palliyage, Nuwan Bopage, Manjula Balasuriya, Buddhika Tillekeratne appeared for the suspects. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)