Negombo Chief Magistrate Champika Rajapakse ordered yesterday (4) that three persons from among seven suspects who were in remand custody for allegations of aiding and abetting the escape of Korale Kankanamlage Ravindu Warna Rangana alias Booru Moona the organized criminal from the custody of the Katunayake police, providing him with transport facilities, and shelter and keeping him hidden be released on strict bail conditions and that the remaining four suspects be remanded further until April 11.
Those who were released on cash bail of Rs.15,000 each and two surety bails of one million rupees each were Poththewela Indrasara Thera (48) resident at the Jayalanka Dhamma Resort, Rittadeniya, Hettipola, 51-year-old Divulwewe Deepananda Thera and Weerasinghe Aarachchilage Dilan Pathum Prabath (28) of Bandaththara Kanda, Ambewela, Kalubowitiyana, Kamburugamuwa (the driver of the car).
The police reported to the court the previous day of the case that they were withdrawing the charges made against three under the Immigration and Emigration Act.
A travel ban was imposed on these three suspects released on bail and it is mentioned further in the bail order that they should report to the Katunayake Police Station on every first and last Sunday of the month.
Chief Magistrate Champika Rajapakse ordered further that the suspects Suresh Pushpakumara, a resident of Katuwellegama, Sandaruwan Sanjeewa, a resident of Kadirana Demanhanadiya, Manjula Jayawardena, a resident of Mansilgoda, Minuwangoda and Anton Jayasanka Fernando, a resident of Kattuwa Pallansena be remanded further until April 11.
The suspects were represented by lawyers Dantha Niranjana, Yasas Praveen Sovis and Manesh Wewita while Inspector Mudannayake of the Katunayake Police represented the plaintiff.