Suspects in Jalthara gang rape further remanded

By Buddika Kumarasiri   

 The eight suspects on remand in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old schoolgirl, including her lover, inside the concrete structure of a half-built crematorium in Jalthara, Hanwella on Poson Poya Day were produced before Homagama Acting Magistrate Pathmasiri Jayawardene yesterday and further remanded till July 05.  The suspects remanded were Kankanulage Manuja Sasmika, Dedimuttuduwa Nanayakkara Maligaspe Koralage Vidura Avishka, Galahitiya Vidanage Lahiru Dilshan Perera, Walpita Devamunige Nikhila Dulanjana, Thilanka Wijethunga, Hewamasmulage Lishan Nethmina Abeywardene, Kuragala Naveen Kosala, Avishka Anaranath Priyadarshana. They were residents of Ranala in Jalthara in Hanwella.  Police had filed action against them on four charges including unlawful assembly abduction and rape of an underage girl, and detaining her by force,  When the police informed court that the victim was under treatment at Homagama Base Hospital, the Magistrate postponed the identification parade and ordered the prison officials to produce the suspects, excluding the first and the third suspects, in an identification parade on July 05.  The suspects were produced in court by Prison officers.