Former Rajarata Uni. students plead guilty to harassment charges

By Upali Ananda

The 17 former student movement leaders from Rajarata University, who had been charged with criminal intimidation and harassment of former Vice Chancellor Prof. Ranjith Wijewardene, pleaded guilty to the charges when the case was taken up yesterday before Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate Manodi Hewawasam.

The magistrate ordered them to pay Rs. 1,500 each as state costs. She considered the fact that the suspects are now graduates employed in government and public sector institutions, and without imposing imprisonment, ordered them to pay only the state costs.

Attorney-at-Law Chandana Weerakoon told the court that the incident occurred in 2018 when the suspects were students at the university. He added that they pleaded guilty without wasting the court’s time. He requested the court to order the payment of only state costs so as not to affect their employment.

Sergeant Herath made submissions for the state on the instructions of CI Ranjith Chandrasiri of Mihintale Police.