• Arrested will be charged under Penal Code and Public Properties Act  
• Probe underway over assault and arrest of journalists covering Mirihana protest  
• Over 45 including Police, STF, journalists and civilians injured  

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

More than 50 persons including journalists and a female were among those who were taken into custody in connection with the tense situation which broke out on Thursday night during a protest near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence in Mirihana.  

Senior Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said that those arrested during the protest will be charged under the Penal Code and Public Properties Act and not under the PTA.  A tense situation erupted after police used teargas and water cannons to disperse the massive crowd who were protesting near the President’s residence after they broke the first barricade and tried to storm towards the President’s residence  

Senior DIG Rohana said that three police teams, Colombo Crimes Division, CID and Western (North) Crimes Division are conducting investigations.  

Several vehicles including two buses, a jeep, a three-wheeler and two traffic motorcycles were also set on fire during the protest.  Ajith Rohana said that the property damage caused by the riot in Mirihana has been estimated at nearly Rs. 39 million.