Court orders the arrest of Johnston Fernando

by Zulfick Farzan 08-06-2022 | 4:13 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Fort Magistrate orders to arrest and produce in court Ex-Minister Johnston Fernando who was named as a suspect in the case filed over the attack on peaceful protestors on 9th May 2022.

Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered for the MPs arrested upon considering the submissions made by Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena, who appeared for the Attorney General.

She told the court that the MP, who is named as a suspect in the incident, was not residing at his residence, and therefore called for an open warrant to be issued for his arrest.

In addition, MP Milan Jayathilake, Wasantha' Handapangoda, Mahinda Kahandagama, and 10 other suspects were released on two personal bails of Rs. 1 Million each.

However, four suspects including MP Santha Nishantha, Dan Priyasad, and Saman Lal Fernando were remanded to the 15th of June, as evidence was produced to claim that they were directly involved in the incident.

The suspects were NOT produced in court due to security reasons.

The Additional Solicitor General also told the court that the investigation material prepared by the Criminal Investigations Department was directed to the Attorney General for an inquiry on whether the Police Officers had not carried out their duty properly.

A normal Monday morning on the 9th of May 2022, turned into a scene of chaos after pro-government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees following a meeting chaired by then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The meeting at Temple Trees was organized by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Local Government Members Forum and saw hundreds in attendance.

Following this meeting, the pro-government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees and dismantled the camp.

Thereafter, they moved to the main protest site in Galle Face known as GotaGoGama and destroyed several tents, and assaulted peaceful protestors.

Sri Lanka Police, the Riot Police, Sri Lanka Army, and other law enforcement agencies were called in to control the situation and Sri Lanka Police eventually imposed an island-wide curfew to control the unrest.

Following investigations, the MPs and several other local government members were arrested for their involvement in the attacks on the protest sites.