Request for release of PS member rejected

A request for the release of the Nuwaragam Palatha PS member Sarath Weerasinghe was rejected again by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Ruwandika Marapana.

The PS member (UPFA) was remanded on charges of constructing two buildings on an archaeological site causing severe damages to an ancient pond located close to Asoka MV in Periyamkulama in Anuradhapura.

The Judge ordered the suspect to be further remanded till 23rd and also ordered the special police unit of the North Central DIG Office for protection of archaeological sites and to summon a archaeological report immediately and frame the charges against the suspect.

The Legal Officer of the Archaeological Department Attorney Rohana Kariyawasam informed the court the site where digging had been done has been defined as an archaeological site in the maps prepared in 1923.

Attorney Rohana Kariyawasam, Archaeological Assistant Commissioner Mahinda Weerakkody appeared for the complainant assisted by PC (23118) Perera.

Attorneys Ranjith Rajakaruna, Chandana Weerakone , Kalinga Ravindra and Dimuthu Bandara appeared for the suspect. On the direction of the DIG Anuradhapura Nandana Wijerathna OIC of the Special Archaeological Police Unit IP Saman Kumara and SI Chandrasiri and a team further investigated the incident.

The PS member (UPFA) was remanded on charges of constructing two buildings on an archeological site causing severe damages to an ancient pond located close to Asoka MV in Periyamkulama in Anuradhapura