Man who forcibly entered Rupavahini and disrupted telecast arrested at BIA

Dhaniz Ali, the person who forcibly entered Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and attempted to disrupt telecasts on July 13, has been arrested.

He was taken into custody while trying to leave for Dubai on a flight from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, according to a statement issued by the police.

The arrestee is a 31-year-old from Webada in Kurunegala.

On July 13, a group of protesters including Dhaniz Alia forced their way into the state-owned media institute, demanding that only anti-government protests-related news be broadcast thereafter.

Two of the protesters then appeared on a live interview, after which the channel suspended its live and recorded telecasts for brief period of time.

The police later initiated investigations into the incident to identify the protesters in question.

In its statement, the police said the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court had issued a warrant on the suspect for failing to appear before the court over a case filed against a protest staged in front of the Finance Ministry on June 20, when a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met with a group of ministerial officials.

Further, he had been released on bail by the court over a case against alleged damaged caused to public property during a demonstration staged opposite the Police Headquarters on June 09.