Tuesday, 15 October 2013 00:16
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UNP Parliamentarian and former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will surrender to the Matara Police this morning after officers from the Police station sought his arrest before court yesterday.
Police told the Matara Magistrate Wasantha Ramyakumara that there was evidence against Samaraweera and 10 others in connection with violent intra party clashes on 5 October.
Thirty suspects, many of them Samaraweera’s supporters, have already been remanded by the Magistrate.
The Magistrate declined to issue a warrant for Samaraweera’s arrest but told Police that they could arrest the Parliamentarian and produce him in court if there was sufficient evidence.
UNP Legal Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Nissanka Nanayakkara told the Daily FT that since no warrant was out for the MP’s arrest, Samaraweera would hand himself over to the Matara Police at 9 a.m. today and asked to be produced in Court. “We will take the matter up with the courts,” the lawyer who has been retained as Samaraweera’s Counsel said.
Police are also seeking the arrest of UNP members Sudath Chandrasekera, Kithsiri Kahatapitiya, Dilan Nicholas, Dilanka Weerakoon, Gangodawila Upul, Jayantha Medaneligoda, Roshan Indika de Silva, Chamila Ranaweera, lawyer Kamal Jayantha Silva and H.R. Wimalasiri.
Samaraweera, who is a staunch supporter of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, led a protest against a march led by party rebels Provincial Councillors Shiral Lakthilake and Maithri Guneratne last weekend. Using poles and blunt weapons, the two protesting groups attacked each other in the middle of Matara town.
Guneratne’s father Herman Guneratne was remanded on 5 October for firing into the crowd with a personal weapon. At least three persons sustained gunshot injuries, including a UNP Southern Provincial Council member.
Herman Guneratne who has been entered into the Merchant Ward of the Colombo National Hospital since he was remanded was due to be produced in Court yesterday but did not appear.
