Rambukkana Shooting incident: SSP Keerthiratne's writ petition re - fixed for July 12

The writ petition filed by former Senior Superintendent of Police, Kegalle, K.B. Keerthiratne and three other police officers challenging the Kegalle Magistrate's order to arrest them in connection with the recent Rambukkana shooting incident were today re-fixed for support by the Court of Appeal.

A two-judge-bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Justice Dhammika Ganepola re-fixed the petition for support for the interim relief on July 12. The Court of Appeal was informed that the petitioners have already filed applications at the Kegalle High Court seeking bail and these applications are to be taken up for inquiry on July 7. In their writ petitions, the petitioners stated that there was no reasonable suspicion of committing a crime by the petitioners since they acted to disperse an unruly crowd. They further said that the Magistrate has misdirected herself when making an order directing the IGP to arrest the persons who are responsible for the shooting. The Attorney General had raised objections against the writ petition citing there is no necessity to intervene into the Magistrate’s order at this stage. SSP Keerthiratne was arrested for allegedly giving orders to shoot at protesters while three other officers were arrested for opening fire at the protesters in Rambukkana on April 19. The protesters had been agitating against the overnight price hike after blocking the railway tracks. President's Counsel Shavindra Fernando appeared for the petitioners. Additional Solicitor General Vikum de Abrew with Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared for the Attorney General. President's Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne with Upul Jayasuriya appeared for the aggrieved party.