Twenty-eight persons arrested following a tense situation during yesterday’s Joint Opposition protest in Hambantota, have been remanded until October 16 by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court.
Police said that suspects arrested for unruly behavior and damaging public property were presented before Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne last night.
Police had used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the individuals engaged in the protest opposite the Indian Consulate in Hambantota, against the agreement to handover operations of the Hambantota port and Mattala airport to two foreign companies.
The protest was organized by the Joint Opposition with the participation of several of its MPs including Namal Rajapaksa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Sanath Nishantha.
The protest was scheduled to be held near the Mattala Airport, however the venue was changed to Indian consulate in Hambanota after police had obtained a court order preventing any protests being held near the airport.
