52 ganja smokers fined

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday imposed a fine of Rs.260, 000 on 52 youths who pleaded guilty to smoking ganja at several places in Kollupitiya.

The youths - most of them aged between 18 and 21 -had been arrested by the Kollupitiya police and produced before Magistrate Thilina Gamage who ordered that each be fined Rs.5000.

Police said most of the suspects were higher education students at private educational institutions. Meanwhile, a university student attached to a state university was also among the suspects who were produced in Court for smoking ganja and he was ordered to pay crown cost of Rs.5000.