Police Tells Court It Is Still Investigating BBS Members Who Stormed Rishad's Ministry

Thursday, 31 July 2014

The Kollupitiya police today informed court that they were still conducting investigations to ascertain the BBS members who trespassed into the building of Ministry of Industry and Commerce on April 23 .

Police told Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage that they were inspecting video footage obtained from media institutions. Further date fixed for September 11.

Ironically, police have failed to identify suspects even after a lapse of three months period.

On April 23, members of BBS stormed the Ministry building looking for UPFA Mahiyanganaya Pradeshiya Sabha member Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thera. A police complaint against the BBS was lodged at the Kollupitiya police by an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.  

Attempts To Intimidate BASL President Continue

August 1, 2014

While the Police maintain a lackadaisical attitude towards conducting an independent investigation into the recent attempts to intimidate the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), the intimidations have recurred yesterday.

Upul Jayasuriya

BASL President Upul Jayasuriya has told local English newspaper – Daily Mirror that several men in plainclothes were seen hanging out near his office located in Flower Road, Colombo 3 last afternoon.

Jayasuriya had said he initially noticed an individual suspiciously wandering around his office premises at about 1.30 pm and had later walked towards the Public Library premises, where Jayasuriya claims eyewitnesses had noticed him getting into a red, unregistered car.

Thereafter, towards later in the evening at about 5.30 pm, two men in plainclothes on a motorbike had had been waiting in front of his office. Upon being questioned, they had said they are from the Police and were there for his protection.

“How can an unregistered vehicle move about in the heart of the city in broad daylight when there are so many traffic policemen about?” Jayasuriya has questioned.

A complaint regarding the suspicious activity had been lodged at the Cinnamon Garden Police Station.

The first intimidation attempt on Jayasuriya was made on July 15 where two men in a motorbike had tailed him for several hours.