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19-year old from Katunayake charged with arson, remanded till 20 May

17 May 2022

  • Lawyer says charged with mischief involving arson, violating curfew, criminal intimidation 
  • His bike knocked into by Avenra Garden Hotel vehicle 
BY Pamodi Waravita Pramodh Madushanka, a 19-year-old worker at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ), has been remanded till 20 May for his alleged involvement in the violence that occurred in the area on the evening of 9 May.  A counsel appearing for Madushanka told The Morning over the weekend that he was charged for causing mischief with fire and for breaking curfew.  “He has been remanded because the Police claimed that he might intimidate other witnesses. The case will be called again on 20 May,” the counsel said. “On the night of 9 May, some co-workers had asked him to come to the factory where he works, which is very close to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake. While travelling to the factory, a vehicle belonging to the Avenra Garden Hotel in Negombo had overtaken his bike, and in the process, knocked into it.  “He had then followed the vehicle, with the intention of noting down the licence plate in order to file a Police complaint. Near the BIA, within visible distance of the factory where he worked, there were groups of people checking all the vehicles. They had stopped the vehicle belonging to the said hotel and had started hitting it. Madushanka had also got down from his bike and started explaining that the vehicle had knocked into his bike as well,” sources at the said FTZ told The Morning on 15 May.  However, they said that a private media channel had highlighted Madushanka at the scene, with a video showing him gesturing towards the vehicle.  “On 13 May, the Police came to the factory to take Madushanka. But the workers did not allow them to do it, until he could go with a lawyer. He was remanded as soon as he was taken there,” they added. Meanwhile, when workers and organisations, including the Stand Up Movement Lanka, had attempted to protest his arrest in front of the relevant Police Station on 13 May, the Police had said that they were “causing more disruption”.  On 9 May, supporters of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa gathered at the Temple Trees, where they engaged in chants, asking him not to resign. They were addressed by Rajapaksa and former Minister Johnston Fernando inside the Temple Trees. Footage on social media shows former Minister Namal Rajapaksa talking to them as well. Following this, the crowd assaulted the protestors outside the Temple Trees, at the “MynaGoGama”, where they were engaged in a days’ long struggle, demanding his resignation. The crowd then moved towards the “GotaGoGama”, where they assaulted “Go Home Gota” protestors, setting fire to many structures near the Galle Face Green which belonged to the protestors. Several videos show Government MP Sanath Nishantha among this crowd of attackers, with one photograph showing Nishantha and Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon together. Calls to arrest Rajapaksa and the others involved have been growing since.  Following this, the “GotaGoGama” was rebuilt at the Galle Face Green, with the struggle demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa continuing for the 37th consecutive day. Homes of several MPs have been burnt around the island, including Medamulana, which the Rajapaksa family has named as their ancestral home in Hambantota.  


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