Hambantota protesters granted bail...

The 31 suspects arrested over the protest staged in Hambantota on October 6, were granted bail by the Hambantota Magistrate’s court a short while ago. 

The suspects arrested over the protest staged in Hambantota on October 6, arrived at the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court earlier today (13), for the second hearing of the case lodged against them. 

The Thirty-one suspects arrested over the protest in Hambantota were further remanded until November 13 by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court on October 30. 

The suspects including MP Prasanna Ranaweera, Western Provincial Councillor Upali Kodikara, Southern Provincial Councillors Sampath Athukorala and Major (Rtd.) Ajith Prasanna were produced before Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne.
One suspect, who is said to be a student, was granted bail due to special educational reasons, Ada Derana reporter said. 

They had been arrested on charges of unlawful assembly, causing damage to public property, injuring police officers, obstructing their duty and violating a court order after they participated in the Joint Opposition-organised protest opposite the Indian Consulate in Hambantota on October 6.

Police had used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the individuals engaged in the protest, against any agreement to handover operations of the Hambantota port and Mattala airport to two foreign companies.

UPFA Parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, DV Chanaka, Provincial Councilor Sampath Atukorala and five others arrested and remanded in connection with the protest were granted bail on October 16.