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Four arrested for standing near S.W.R.D. statue 

27 Jul 2022

  • Remanded till Friday for breaching 50 m boundary
  • Police mark borders, protestors remove tents
BY Buddhika Samaraweera A total of four suspects who had gathered around the statue of slain Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike at the Galle Face Green in Colombo were arrested by the Police yesterday (26), and were remanded till 29 July by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. They were charged with being in violation of the order issued on 20 July by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court prohibiting anyone from assembling within a 50 m radius of the statue, The Morning was told by an official of the Police Media Division (PMD). Meanwhile, some Police officers marked the relevant boundaries after measuring the distance of 50 m from the statue, while protestors removed the temporary constructions belonging to the “RanilGoGama” (formerly “GotaGoGama”) protest site within the border in question. The Colombo Fort Police had reported to Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage on 20 July that a certain group was preparing to topple or damage the Bandaranaike statue at the Galle Face Green. While reporting the matter, the Police had sought an appropriate order in order to ensure the safety of the statue, and the Chief Magistrate, who considered the request, issued an order prohibiting anyone from gathering within a distance of 50 m from the statue. Following the issuance of the court order, Police security had been tightened around the Bandaranaike statue, and nearly 50 Police and Police Special Task Force officers were seen deployed around the statue. Furthermore, Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police and Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa said at the time that the Police would be taking necessary action against those who violate the said court order and gather near the statue.


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