Arrest warrant issued for Johnston Fernando

• Attorneys of MP Fernando file a writ petition before the Court of Appeal to prevent the arrest
• Petition to be taken up today by the Appeal Court
• Parliamentarian Milan Jayathilake and 12 others were released on bail
• MP Sanath Nishantha, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, Dan Priyasad and others further remanded till 15 June

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued an arrest for Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando, who has been named as a key suspect in the 9 May unrest.

The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage after taking into consideration a request by the Department Attorney General.

Separately, a writ petition was filed before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to prevent the arrest of MP Fernando. The petition was filed by attorneys on behalf of the Parliamentarian. The petition will be taken up at the Appeals Court today. 

Meanwhile, the suspects, who were arrested in connection with the 9 May attacks on anti-Government protesters outside Temple Trees in Kollupitiya and GotaGoGama at Galle Face Green, were produced before the court yesterday.

Parliamentarians Milan Jayathilake and 12 others who were arrested and remanded over the unrest on 9 May opposite Temple Trees and at Galle Face have been released on bail yesterday.

However, Parliamentarian Sanath Nishantha, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, Dan Priyasad, and another group were further remanded till 15 June.

On 9 May, a normal Monday morning turned into a scene of chaos after pro-Government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees following a meeting chaired by then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.