Protests near President’s residence in Mirihana 15 protesters released on bail

• Startling event of the Court proceedings was the appearance of hundreds of lawyers in the Court on behalf of the suspects to provide Pro-Bono services
• B report presented by Police failed to reveal the commission of offences against the suspects under Public Property Act

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

Fifteen individuals arrested over the protest held near the President’s residence in Mirihana on Thursday (31) night were ordered to be released on bail after being produced before Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court.

 Each of them were ordered to be released on a surety bail of Rs.100,000 by Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

Six other suspects are to be produced before an identification parade on Monday. Accordingly, they were ordered to be remanded till April 4. The startling event of the court proceedings was the appearance of hundreds of lawyers in the Court on behalf of the suspects to provide Pro-Bono services. The protestors were represented by a group of lawyers including President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Ikram Mohamed PC, Kalinga Indatissa PC, Sarath Jayamanna PC, Anuja Premaratne PC, Anura Meddegoda PC, Senior Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and Manjula Balasooriya. The suspects were arrested for damaging public property after being members of an unlawful assembly. However, the Magistrate observed that the B report presented by Police has failed to reveal the commission of offences against the suspects under Public Property Act.