• Anuruddha Bandara was ordered to be released on a Rs.100,000 surety bail by Colombo Additional magistrate

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Social media activist and the admin of ‘GoHomeGota2022’ Facebook page Thisara Anuruddha Bandara arrested for allegedly attempting to excite feelings of disaffection to the President and the Government was released on bail after being produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday.    

He was ordered to be released on a Rs.100,000 surety bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate S.Prabhakaran. The suspect was produced in court by police in the wee hours of yesterday (3) and a group of lawyers providing Pro-Bono legal assistance to Anuruddha Bandara spent long hours in court until he was produced before Court.   
A group of lawyers headed by President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna argued that there is no evidence to prove that their client had committed any offence coming under section 120 of the Penal Code.   

Jayamanna submitted to Court that his client has only campaigned for a peaceful assembly through Facebook posts by exercising freedom of expression, a fundamental right guaranteed under the constitution.   
Section 120 of the Penal Code states: “Whoever by words, either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs; or by visible representations, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite feelings of disaffection to the President of the Government of the Republic, or excites or attempts to excite hatred to or contempt of the administration of justice, or excites or attempts to excite the People of Sri Lanka to procure, otherwise than by lawful means, the alteration of any matter by law established or attempts to raise discontent or disaffection amongst the People of Sri Lanka or to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of such People, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years”.   The suspect was arrested by the Mutwal Police for allegedly attempting to excite feelings of disaffection toward the President and the Government of the Republic though a facebook page named ‘GoHomeGota2022’. 

 
President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna, Senior Counsel Kaushalya Nawaratne, Darshana Kuruppu, Upul Kumarapperuma, Gamini Alwis, Sunil Watagala and several others appeared for the suspect.   

• President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanna, Senior Counsel Kaushalya Nawaratne, Darshana Kuruppu, Upul Kumarapperuma, Gamini Alwis, Sunil Watagala and several others appeared for the suspect
• Jayamanna submitted to Court that his client has only campaigned for a peaceful assembly through Facebook posts by exercising freedom of expression, a fundamental right guaranteed under the constitution