Court order to arrest Ratta and Manuwarna

Fort Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara yesterday issued warrants for the arrest of Member of Parliament Jagath Manuwarna and Rathindu Senaratne alias 'Ratta' for failing to appear in a case called before the Fort Magistrate's Court. Although the names of the suspects were announced when the case filed by the Slave Island Police was called in open court, the Magistrate issued this order due to the failure of these two individuals to appear before the court.

This case is based on a protest held in front of the Fort Court, requesting that bail not be granted to former Minister Sanath Nishantha and a group of suspects, when they were produced in court in connection with the incident of assaulting protestors on July 25, 2022. As the MP and Rathindu Senaratne had evaded court when the case was called, the Magistrate took steps to issue warrants for their arrest and notices to their sureties.

Meanwhile, attention was also drawn to Thanne Gnanananda Thero, who was not present in court for the trial on the previous hearing date. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered his release on an additional bail of one hundred thousand rupees.

However, seven suspects, including actress Damitha Abeyratne, Joseph Stalin of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, Dhammika Munasinghe, Thampitiye Sugathananda Thero, and Father Satyavel, who had been released on bail in connection with this case, appeared before the court yesterday when the case was called. Attorney Thilina Weerasinghe appeared before the court on behalf of these suspects.