They are suppressing the leading figures of the democratic camp: Bandula Chandrasekera

COLOMBO(News 1st) - Activists of the Jathika Hela Urumaya convened a media briefing today to share their thoughts on the arrest of former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. Bandula Chandrasekera, Councillor of Boralesgamuwa Urban Council stated that Champika made an outstanding contribution to the Presidential election campaign of Sajith Premadasa from the NDF. He added that even back then Champika voiced the suppression that took place and the military junta's that were involved in the suppression. He added that they could be heading into rough times and they are now on a campaign to suppress the leading figures in the democratic camp. Attorney-at-law Tudor Perera, former Municipal Councillor of Colombo Municipal Council: "Now they are trying to look into the person who drove the vehicle. Why is that? Does it help Sandeep recover? Does it rectify the mistake that Sandeep made? No. This 1000 cc vehicle can only be registered for sports activities. The Commissioner of Motor traffic has informed the court that these 1000cc vehicles cannot be ridden on public roads. Also, the registration documents of the vehicle state that the vehicle can only be used for sports purposes. So if this vehicle is to be used for sports activities a carrier must be used to take this vehicle to the race track. Against a legal background of this sort, the owner of this motorbike gives this vehicle to the victim to ride along public roads. This is an act of negligence. and because of this negligence, this accident was caused. Now once the accident has occurred what can be done? This vehicle cannot be ridden on public roads, so they cannot seek redress from the law. The motorbike does not have a license or insurance, so even if the child dies no one can claim insurance. Even if children on the road are killed they cannot apply for compensation because there is no insurance. Thirdly we must find out if Sandeep even had a license to determine as to if he can seek compensation." This group also visited the Police headquarters and filed a complaint on the legal status of the motorbike that was said to be knocked down by Patali Champika Ranawaka. Meanwhile, a complaint was also filed at the Colombo Crimes division stating that proper investigations were not conducted into an accident that occurred in 2014. Bosath Kalahe Pathirana of Jathika Hela Urumaya stated that he filed a complaint at the Mirihana police regarding an accident that occurred on the 29th of the 6th month in 2014. He added in the incident, a woman had driven a state vehicle owned by a ministry and knocked down a young man and fled the scene. He added that when investigations were conducted on the number plate of the vehicle it was revealed that the vehicle belonged to the Minister of Agriculture of the Western Provincial Council. He went on to note that during the accident, the vehicle had been driven by the wife of the Provincial Minister of Agriculture Udaya Gammanpila and the law has not been enacted on this incident up to date.