CID arrests a suspect in connection with bowser incident

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday (23) arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged attempt to set fire to a fuel bowser during Tuesday’s unrest in Rambukkana.

The suspect is a 28-year-old resident of Dharmapala Mawatha, Pinnawala Watta, Rambukkana, Senior Police Spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police Ajith Rohana said.

Videos and photographs that have been circulating on social media shows the suspect, wearing a green t- shirt and camouflage pants similar to those worn by the military, removing something from the section of the bowser that was on fire, throwing it away and walking away from the scene, police added.

The suspect was due to be produced before the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court last evening after the CID recorded his statement.

A 22-member CID team is now handling investigations into the matter. The team is headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP) and also includes an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and two Chief Inspectors (CI), SDIG Rohana said. The team has recorded statements from about 20 persons regarding the incident, while about 10 documents have been taken into custody as court products. Detectives were also analysing CCTV footage from the area, as well as videos that have been telecast in the mainstream media and social media.

One person was killed and more than a dozen suffered gunshot injuries after police opened fire on protesters with live bullets during Tuesday’s incident. The funeral of K. D. Chaminda Lakshan, the father of two who was killed in the police shooting, was held yesterday amid tight security.