Five undergrads remanded over Thursday’s clash

November 11, 2011, 9:47 pm

By Jayantha de Silva

Five undergraduates of the Kelaniya University were produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Maheen Wijeweera yesterday, over Thursday’s clash between two factions of a Science Faculty. They were remanded till November 17.

The Magistrate allowed an application to allow the suspects to sit for their examination to be held on (14) Monday and ordered any requests in this regard to be directed to the Commissioner of Prisons.

The suspects in this case are Tivanka Somachandra, Dilruk Prasanna, Manusha Palinda, Chaturanga Herath and Chintaka Ruvinda.

The Magistrate took into consideration the objections of Police in granting bail to the five suspects on the basis that the clashes were politically motivated.

The Magistrate on being informed by the police that in the event the suspects were enlarged on bail the possibility of a future clash could not be discounted, disallowed the bail applications despite the pleadings of their counsels "that the innocent students be granted bail on any condition ".

The counsel in response to the application filed by the police further requested that the campus be made out of bound to the suspects.

The police did not object to the application which was allowed.

Two complaints had been lodged with the police and the clash resulted in six students being treated for wounds at the Colombo North Hospital.

The counsel for the student still under treatment submitted he is presently warded at the Ragama Hospital with 32 stitches. His arm and abdomen had been cut by a tree cutting electric saw.

Two factions had pelted stones at each other resulting in some receiving head injuries.

At this point police informed that peace was not prevailing on the campus.

The counsel said that the root of the clash were a row between a professor and a student leader.

PS 32873 Jayantha prosecuted.

IP Priyantha assisted by SI Dissanayake conducted investigations.

Attorney-at-Law Mervin Silva, Anton Senanayake, Bertram Mendis and Mitila Yapa appeared for the complainant faction.

Attorneys-at-Law Thusitha Dammika and Nilan Amarakoon appeared for the counter complainant faction.