Judiciary Under Pressure From Maithri; Releases Army Intelligence Officer Who Assaulted Former Rivira Editor
October 14, 2016
With undue pressure from President Maithripala Sirisena, an Army Intelligence Officer who was identified as the culprit behind the assault of former editor of Rivira Newspaper, Upali Tennakoon and his wife was released on bail today.
Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara
Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara ordered Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and three sureties of Rs. 500,000.
The decision comes just days after President Sirisena launched a verbal attack against the arresting and remanding of Army Intelligence Officers who have been involved in various criminal activities including being linked to murder.
In August, Upali Tennakoon has identified Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagame as his attacker.
Just days after the assassination of Founder Editor of Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, Tennakoon and his wife came under attack in Gampaha in January 2009. The culprits came on motorbikes and followed a similar attack style which was carried out to attack Wickrematunge, although the attack on Tennakoon was not meant to be fatal.
Despite Nanayakkara releasing Udalagama on bail, Mount Lavinia Magistrate yesterday further remanded Udalagama till October 28 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Wickrematunge.
