Retired Medical practitioner released on bail

Retired medical practitioner Dr. Shirley Herath (75) arrested and remanded over the hand grenade incident at All Saints' Church in Borella was today ordered to be released on bail by the Colombo High Court. Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Tillekaratne made this order pursuant to a bail application filed on behalf of the retired doctor challenging the decision of Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court’s decision to refuse bail. Accordingly, the suspect was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 with two sureties of Rs.2.5 million each. The court also imposed travel ban against the suspect and he was ordered to surrender his passport to the Court custody. The Attorney General did not raise objections to the bail application of the suspect. High Court Judge observed that this bail application had been filed in  the High Court following the prosecution's decision to drop charges under the provisions of Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). On February 9, the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court ordered the release of Sacristan (caretaker) of All Saints' Church in Borella arrested on suspicion over the hand grenade incident. On February 2, the Court also ordered the release of a church worker and two others who were arrested regarding this incident owing to insufficient evidence against them