Arson attack on Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence CID arrests social media activist Piyath Nikeshala

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Social media activist Piyath Nikeshala, who was slashed by goons backing former Kaduwela Deputy Mayor last month, has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday over the arson attack on ex-PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence on July 09, 2022.   

Nikeshala, who had been asked to report to the CID office in Fort at 9.00am yesterday to record a statement related to the arson attack by the mob on former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence was placed under custody yesterday evening, his family told the Daily Mirror.   

The social media activist, who was a prominent figure in the ‘GotaGoHome’ aragalaya in the Galle Face Green was said to have gone live on Facebook from his mobile phone asking people to come to the scene, where a group of Sirasa TV journalists were being beaten up by Police Special Task Force personnel.   
Nikeshala had reportedly gone near  Flower Road on July 09, 2022 evening when news spread fast that a camera unit of the Sirasa TV came under attack by the police.   

He was reportedly summoned to the CID yesterday to record a statement regarding his attempts to summon crowds to the scene where the television journalists were attacked and subsequently a tense atmosphere prevailed including an arson attack on the former prime minister’s private residence.    Nikeshala sustained serious wounds when his vehicle was blocked and hacked by a gang of goons led by former Kaduwela Mayor Chandika Abeyratne in Koswatte, Battaramulla on May 10 this year. Thalangama Police acting on this arrested both parties including victimised Piyath Nikeshala over a complaint lodged by the assailants.   

Nikeshala was earlier arrested by the CID over the incident of protestors breaking into the Prime Minister Secretariat where a case is pending in the courts.    The arrested social media activist will be produced before Fort Magistrate today, his family said.    The Police Spokesman was unavailable for comment.