Three suspects, including the national organiser of the Socialist Youth Union, Eranga Gunasekara, arrested during a protest held on Saturday, were ordered to be released on bail after being produced before Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court.
Only three out of 84 individuals arrested by police were produced before a court, and the rest of them had been released on police bail. A total of 84 individuals have been arrested by police while taking part in a protest organised by the Socialist Youth Union at Dean’s Road in Maradana.
Three suspects, Eranga Gunasekera, Ven. Koswatte Mahanama, and Mandira Abeysekera, were produced before Maligakanda Acting Magistrate Vineetha Dias for allegedly staging a protest after causing damage to public property and failing to obey police orders.
After producing the suspects before the court, the Maradana police moved to remand the three suspects, citing they have pending court cases over similar incidents.
Defence counsel raised objections against the police request and argued that the suspects were arrested while exercising their freedom of expression, a fundamental right guaranteed under the constitution.
