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9 May ‘GotaGoGama’ attacks: Two SLPP MPs, Mayor to handover phones to CID per court order

04 Aug 2022

  • MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayathilake, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando under probe
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court ordered five suspects including Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayathilake, and Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, to hand over their mobiles phones to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), for further investigation into the incident of two public protest sites being attacked in Colombo on 9 May. When the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday (3), the CID requested the court that the relevant CID officials who are carrying out investigations into the incident be allowed to examine the telephone data of five suspects, including Perera, Jayathilake, and Fernando. Accordingly, the Chief Magistrate ordered the relevant suspects to hand over their mobile phones to the CID. He also ordered the CID to inform the court of the progress of the investigation into the incident on 24 August. A group of SLPP supporters, who had come to meet then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had attacked the “MynaGoGama” peaceful protest site in front of the Temple Trees in Kollupitiya, which demanded the resignation of Rajapaksa, and the “GotaGoGama” protest site at the Galle Face Green, which demanded the resignation of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on 9 May. Following the attack, tense situations erupted in several parts of the country. Furthermore, the CID had, on 17 May, informed Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, that it intended to record statements from seven MPs in connection with the investigation into the attacks. Out of the said MPs, Perera and Jayathilake were arrested by the CID on 17 May. They were then produced before Chief Magistrate Gamage from time to time, and were released on bail in early June.  


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