31 suspects identified over attack on ‘Gotagogama’ says Attorney General

The Attorney General (AG) informed the Supreme Court yesterday (4) that 31 suspects have been identified during the investigations into the assault on the 'Gota Go Gama' protest site at Galle Face in May 2022.

The AG further informed the court that several then-Members of Parliament are among the suspects. Additionally, the AG expects to file charges against the then-Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon for dereliction of duty.

Senior State Counsel Sajith Bandara, appearing for the Attorney General, stated that indictments are expected to be filed against the suspects soon.

This information was conveyed when five fundamental rights (FR) petitions filed by a group of protestors were called up. The petitions sought a ruling that the fundamental rights of the petitioners were violated by the respondents, including the Police, due to their failure to prevent the assault and enforce the law on May 9, 2022.

The petitions were taken up before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Wengappuli.

Appearing for the AG, Senior State Counsel Sajith Bandara noted that the Court of Appeal had previously issued an interim injunction related to the investigations, but this order has since been suspended by the Supreme Court, allowing further investigations to proceed.

He confirmed that 31 suspects connected to the assault have been identified, and charges are anticipated to be filed against them soon under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The State Counsel also revealed that the identified suspects include several then-sitting Members of Parliament.

Lawyers representing the petitioners argued that the unfortunate situation arose because the Police acted inefficiently when the incident occurred.

In response, the State Counsel stated that a significant number of police officers and all water cannon trucks were present at the scene during the incident. He asserted that they were not properly deployed and that charges would be filed against the highest-ranking officer present at the scene, then-SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, for neglecting his duties.

Counsel Sanjeeva Weerawickrama, appearing for respondent Deshabandu Tennakoon, argued that proceeding with the FR petitions while the Attorney General prepares to file a criminal case against his client would cause severe prejudice. He proposed that the petitions be considered after inquiring into the progress of the criminal proceedings.

Following the submissions, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on the petitions.

The parties also agreed before the court not to pursue the fundamental rights petition against the former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa, who were named as respondents in some of the petitions, as no criminal action would be initiated against them.

Other respondents named in the petitions include former Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne and several police officers, including Deshabandu Tennakoon, who served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Western Province at the time.