CA stays arrest warrants issued on K’gala Mayor and four others

Thursday, 13 August 2020 02:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CA Order comes after consideration of Writ petitions filed by five suspects linked to demolition of Buwaneka Hotel
Execution of arrest warrants stayed till 24 August

The Court of Appeal yesterday stayed the arrest warrant issued on Kurunegala Municipal Council Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharana and four others till 24 August.

The Order was given by the Bench comprising CA President Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna, after taking into consideration the Writ petitions filed by Vitarana and four others, seeking a stay order on the arrest warrant issued on them by the Kurunegala Magistrate Court.

Kurunegala Magistrate A. D.C.S. Hewawasam on Monday reissued warrants for the arrest of five persons and made an Order preventing them from leaving the country in connection with the Buwaneka Hotel case.

The warrants were reissued through the Acting IGP, DIG and SP Kurunegala after Police failed to execute the warrant issued last Friday against the suspects.

The other suspects in the case are the KMC Municipal Commissioner, Municipal Engineer, Acting Management Administrator, and driver of the backhoe vehicle used to demolish the building.

The AG’s Department says that the total loss to the State caused by the demolition of the building (estimated loss Rs. 7.2 million) as well as the cost for its reconstruction (estimated cost Rs. 13.7 million) would add up to around Rs. 20 million.

The AG’s Department maintains that the Mayor and the other KMC officials were aware that the building in question was an ancient Royal Court and the Mayor himself, in 2018, had presented a proposal to the Council to have it preserved. The Mayor’s proposal was approved by the Council.However, on 24 July the entire building had been demolished without any authorisation from the Archaeology Department of the Road Development Authority (RDA).