Sri Lanka: Complaint filed for arrest of ex-PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, 6 others in assault on peaceable protesters

A Sri Lankan court docket on Friday was moved to direct the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to right away arrest former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and 6 others for alleged legal intimidation and aiding and abetting assaults on peaceable anti-government protesters right here this week, in line with a media report.

The private grievance was lodged earlier than the Colombo Magistrate’s Court the place assaults on peaceable protesters outdoors the prime minister’s residence and close to Galle Face had been cited, Daily Mirror Lanka reported.

The protesters who had been attacked by the supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa had been demanding the ruling management resign and take accountability for the unprecedented financial disaster plaguing the nation.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage has ordered the petition to be taken up earlier than the Colombo Chief Magistrate court docket on May 17.

The grievance was lodged by Attorney Senaka Perera.

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The petition calls for the fast arrest of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Members of Parliament Johnston Fernando, Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Sanath Nishantha and Moratuwa Municipal Council Chairman Saman Lal Fernando, Senior police officers Deshabandu Tennakoon and Chandana Wickremeratne.

Sri Lanka is going through its worst financial disaster since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.

The disaster is precipitated partially by an absence of overseas foreign money, which has meant that the nation can not afford to pay for imports of staple meals and gasoline, resulting in acute shortages and really excessive costs.

Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets throughout Sri Lanka since April 9 looking for the resignation of President Gotabaya and his brother Mahinda, as the federal government ran out of cash for important imports.

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Mahinda resigned as prime minister on Monday, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops within the capital.

The assault triggered widespread violence in opposition to pro-Rajapaksa politicians.

At least 9 folks died with over 200 being hospitalised. Some 58 of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s authorities colleagues have seen arson assaults on their private properties.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served because the nation’s prime minister thrice, noticed his residence set on fireplace on Monday. Mahinda Rajapaksa, alongside together with his spouse and household, fled his official residence Temple Trees and took shelter on the naval base in Trincomalee.

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