The case pending against the convener of the Inter-University Student Council Wasantha Mudali was referred to the Colombo Chief Magistrate by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Mrs Tharanga Mahawatta today (17).
This is after the Deputy Solicitor General announced that he will submit complaints to the Judicial Service Commission about an incident where the Additional Magistrate gave money to the suspected Reverend Galvewa Siridhamma Thero for providing local medicines and nutritional supplements.
Meanwhile, Colombo Chief Magistrate Mr. Prasanna Alwis today ordered the further remand of Wasantha Mudali until January 31.
Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of the Inter-University Student Council, who was arrested and remanded under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, was brought before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court today.
The case was called before Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dilipa Peiris, who appeared for the prosecution, made a special request before the court.
“Sir, these suspects were first presented to your office on the 17th and 22nd of November. 4 persons including the director of the Anti-Terrorism Bureau, Senior Superintendent of Police Prasanna de Alwis, Chief Inspector of Police Kapila Bandara, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Wasantha Ratnayake have submitted affidavits to the Inspector General regarding the manner in which you acted there. The Inspector General of Police has submitted the affidavits to the Attorney General. The Inspector General of Police has requested that the affidavits be forwarded to the Judicial Service Commission to complain about you. Therefore, I feel that it is inappropriate for you to examine this complaint.”
At that time, the President’s counsel Mr. Saliya Peiris, who appeared for the defense, strongly objected to the request of the prosecution.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta was informed to submit the relevant affidavit and the Deputy Solicitor General presented it and explained the facts.
“These suspects were presented to your office on November 17. There you made a statement and said, ‘You fought for all of us. It is not possible to grant bail as it has been submitted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Our hands are tied by the Act. If the suspect wants to get Sinhala medicine, let him do it.” It has been informed. Also, you have given an amount of 10,000 rupees to a court official to buy ‘pas panguwa’-and Sastajan to the suspected Siridhamma Thero.”
Here, the Magistrate mentioned that she did this act with a humanitarian motive, considering the second suspect Siridhamma Thero is a Bhikshu .
“I made that statement in front of the officers of the Anti-Terrorism Division. There are some things that I have not mentioned. In spite of that, I cannot condone trying to create a problem.” said the magistrate in the open court.
Also, when the magistrate asked the Deputy Solicitor General whether complaints had been submitted to the Judicial Service Commission regarding the relevant affidavits, he said that he expected to submit complaints today or tomorrow (18).
After considering all the facts presented, the Additional Magistrate of Colombo decided that the relevant complaint will be forwarded to the Chief Magistrate of Colombo.
Accordingly, the complaint was summoned before Colombo Chief Magistrate Mr. Prasanna Alvis.
The Chief Magistrate, who considered the facts presented, stated that the order regarding the bail of Wasantha Mudali will be announced on January 31.
Accordingly, Wasantha Mudala was remanded until that date.
Meanwhile, seven human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have released a statement today stating that the convener of the Inter-University Student Council, Vasantha Mudalige, who is detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, should be released immediately.
