Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa has directed the Kaduwela, Malabe, and Welikada Police to investigate two incidents involving alleged threats and property damage targeting an attorney-at-law, as well as a separate complaint of criminal intimidation allegedly involving Kaduwela Mayor Ranjan Jayalal.
The order was issued after lawyers representing the complainant informed the court that no proper investigations had been carried out into complaints previously lodged regarding the incidents.
According to court proceedings, attorney-at-law Nethrapani Dias had visited the Kaduwela Municipal Council office along with several representatives of an animal welfare group for a scheduled meeting with Mayor Jayalal. It was alleged that during the meeting, the mayor threatened them and ordered them to leave the premises.
Following the incident, Ms. Dias lodged a complaint with the Police. However, it was further alleged that several individuals who arrived on motorbikes later followed her and caused damage to her property.
Counsel for the complainant informed the court that Police had not taken any action in relation to her complaint. They further alleged that Police had instead reported facts to court based on a complaint filed by Mayor Jayalal regarding the incident at the Kaduwela Municipal Council, 13 days after it occurred, without even recording statements from those involved.
Appearing on behalf of Mayor Jayalal, counsel rejected the allegations and maintained that they were false.
Magistrate Buddhadasa ordered written submissions to be filed regarding the mayor’s complaint and directed that all related complaints be taken up again on July 3.
Attorneys Kamal Wijesiri, Sandya Thalduwa, Sajith Tennakoon, and Sanjeewa Gamage appeared on behalf of Ms. Dias, while D.G.P. Karunaratne and Susantha Dodawatta appeared for Mayor Jayalal.
