34 remanded over clash in Kataragama; member of the Seethawaka PS among the remanded

COLOMBO (News 1st):- The 34 suspects who were arrested in connection to a clash between two groups in Kataragama have been remanded until the 22nd of this month. Our correspondent said a member of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha is also among them. The arrested group were on a pilgrimage to Kataragama from Habarana and Padukka. According to the police, the clash had taken place last evening (January 18) following a heated argument between a group of residents who had protested while the Pradeshiya Sabha member and others had been bathing naked in the Manik Ganga under the influence of alcohol. The suspects had assaulted the villagers and five of them were admitted to the hospital after sustaining injuries. The victims of the assault complain that when they had told these suspects to leave the premises since they were bathing naked, a group of about 25-30 had come and hit the people for more than half an hour. The suspects were remanded after being produced before the Tissamaharama Acting Magistrate Krishantha Abeysinghe.