Utiya who assaulted samaneras ... remanded till next 25th

Utiya who assaulted samaneras ... remanded till next 25th

Kebethigollewa district judge and magistrate Mr. Malinda Harshana de Alwis yesterday (11) ordered that the small kiosk owner who was taken into custody by Horowpathana police on suspicion over the incident of having brutally assaulted two samaneras aged 10 and 14 of Horowpathana Sri Swarnathilakarama Maha Pirivena and had behaved in a manner so as to create an uproar among the public and was later produced before court to be remanded til 25th this month. The magistrate
instructed chief inspector of police Mr. Kirthi Jayaratna to conduct further inquiries into this matter and to forward a report to court on the progress of the investigation and subsequently further instructed that the two samaneras subjected to the attack be produced before the judicial medical officer of Anuradhapura teaching hospital and to forward the medical reportstoo to court. The aforesaid instructions were given on the occasion when the suspect was produced before Padaviya tourist magistrate court by Kebethigollewa headquarters chief police inspector Mr. Kirthi Jayaratna. 

Under the above circumstances a person called Chaminda Galaboda alias 'Utiya' resident at Medagama, Horowpathana. Producing the suspect before court, chief inspector of Kebethigollewa police headquarters said that the suspect maintains a small boutique in Medagama area, Horowpathana and that these two samaneras have have come there on last 10th to buy sachets of liquid milk  in which instance the suspect has assaulted them. 

The chief police inspector has mentioned that it was revealed at police investigations that the suspect has accused the two samaneras of having taken two Rs. 10 chocolates without paying the money. However, it was further emphasised and revealed by the chief police inspector that the two samaneras have not taken the chocolates on the sly from the kiosk without paying the money according to police inquiries. 

The chief inspector of police further told court that the scene of the suspect assaulting the samaneras on the face as well as other places in the body is clearly depicted in CCTV cameras installed about 8 feet away from the place the incident took place. He further told court that if the suspect is given bail, there is a serious risk of a public commotion.

The two samaneras aged 10 and 14 after being admitted to Horowpathana basic hospital were later transferred to Anuradhapura teaching hospital for further treatment, inspector of police Mr. Jayaratna then told court. It was of worthy interest to note the accused. hat senior attorneys at law, Ranga Sujeewa, Ajith Dissanayaka, Thushari Wijeynaika and Dilishya Dissanayaka appeared on behalf of the two samaneras free of charge while no attorney at law appeared on behalf of the accused. 

Primary inquiries were carried out and the suspect was taken into custody by a special posse of policemen under orders of Horowpathana police officer in charge, Roshan Sanjeewa while preliminary legal procedures were attended to and suspect produced before court by  Kebethigollewa headquarters chief inspector of police Mr. Kirthi Jayarathna and that was on special orders of superintendent of police, Mr. Kodisingha. 

Anurdhapura - Ananda Karunadasa / Padaviya - Rathna Obeysekera