Warrant of arrest issued on Johnston

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister Johnston Fernando in connection with the Galle Face attack case. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage made this order according to a request made by Attorney General that Johnston Fernando is currently evading CID investigations. Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena appearing for the CID informed the court that they had deployed several teams to arrest Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando but were not in a position to locate his whereabouts. ASG Jinasena submitted to the court that the CID has already searched several suspicious locations in Wellawatta, Battaramulla, Ja-Ela and Udahamulla as a part of investigations into the arrest of Johnston Fernando. The CID acting on the instructions of the Attorney General had named Johnston Fernando as a suspect in connection with the Galle Face attack case. In its B reports, the CID had reported to the court that the Ex-Minister Fernando delivered a speech on May 9 inciting people to attack the protesters at MainaGoGama. Meanwhile, 13 suspects, including Gampaha District Parliamentarian Milan Jayatillake, were ordered to be released on bail. However, four other suspects, including Parliamentarian Sanath Nishantha, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando and leader of Nawa Sinhale National Organisation Dan Priyasad, were further remanded till June 15 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate.