Sri Lankan court remands Marxist alliance members following protest

Sri Lanka's Marxist Democratic National Alliance (DNA) parliamentarians Vijitha Herath, Ajith Kumara and Provincial Councilor Nalin Hewage along with 10 others have been remanded till August 16 by the Galle Magistrate.


The Galle Police presented the two MPs, provincial councilor and the other DNA members to the court Thursday evening.
The DNA members were arrested by the Galle police following a protest held by the party in Galle town calling for the release of DNA Leader General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka.
DNA spokespersons said police tear gassed the protestors twice and arrested several party members.
Herath, Kumara, and Hewage had been arrested by the police when they had visited the Galle Police station to secure the release of its arrested party members.
DNA parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga who was also with the other two DNA MPs was not arrested.
While the DNA claimed the police assaulted a peaceful demonstration, the police claimed that party members had assaulted the police personnel.