The police constable remanded in connection with the incident involving a lawyer at the Mount Lavinia Court premises on October 10 was released on two personal bails of Rs. 100,000 each. Mount Lavinia Magistrate Pasan Amarasena also referred both parties to the mediation board for a report today (13).
During the inquiry, the Mount Lavinia Police informed the court through a further report that investigations had not revealed any evidence that the suspect assaulted the complainant, as alleged by Attorney-at-Law Sanjeewa Anthony.
Attorney Kamal Silva, appearing for the suspect constable, requested bail, stating that his client was a poor man from a small village, had served at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court for six years, and had no prior disciplinary record.
However, President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe, appearing for the complainant, submitted to the court a video clip showing the constable at the time of the incident.
After considering the facts, Magistrate Amarasena granted bail to the suspect constable and referred both parties to the joint mediation panel. The case was fixed for further hearing on November 17.
Meanwhile, the Mount Lavinia Headquarters Police filed a separate case today (13) against Senior Attorney Gunaratne Wanninayake for allegedly using criminal force against the police and failing to cooperate with investigations.
Police informed the court that although the senior attorney was summoned on October 12 to record a statement, he had failed to appear, his phone was switched off, and intelligence reports indicated he was planning to leave the country.
President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, appearing for the senior attorney, denied all allegations.
The Magistrate rejected the police request to order the senior attorney to appear at the police station within a short period and provide a statement. When the police stated that an arrest would be made if he failed to cooperate, the Magistrate noted that he had no objection to such an arrest.
The police also sought court approval to obtain the attorney’s phone records and impose a travel ban, but both requests were rejected.
Neither of the two lawyers involved in the incident appeared before court today. The notice was accepted by President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda on behalf of the senior attorney in the case filed by the Mount Lavinia Headquarters Police.
Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Perera appeared for the Attorney General, while DIG Legal Division Jaliya Senaratne represented the complainant.
The case involving the senior attorney is also scheduled to be recalled on November 17.
