By Piyal Kithsiri and Indika Ramanayake
Eight people, including the vice chairman and three members of the Hali Ela Pradeshiya Saba, who had been taken into custody on suspicion of attacking Mr. Harin Fernando and several others (including media personnel), near the Hali Ela Police Station on September 22, were enlarged on bail of Rs. 100,000 with two sureties by Badulla Magistrate Mahesha Priyadharshani de Silva last afternoon.
The suspects were produced before the magistrate, on allegations of unlawful assembly and use of criminal force, by the Badulla Police Criminal Investigation Unit officers.
The case was put off for October 2.
Hali Ela PS vice chairman Ranjith Karunadeepa, PS members Nandasiri Rajapakse, Indika Jayawardena and M. Thuwan and UPFA stalwarts D.M. Samaranayake, A.G.P. Dilan Indika, D.M. Saman Arunashantha and D.M. Mahinda, were the suspects concerned.
President Counsel Marshal Perera and attorney-at-law Sujeewa Jayasinghe appeared for the suspects.
Journalist Kapila Chandana Kuruppu Arachchi is undergoing treatment at the General Hospital, Colombo for injuries sustained in the attack.