By Sarah Hannan The proposed move to have the Kurunegala Municipal Council cover the litigation costs of the case regarding the demolition of an archeologically important site in Kurunegala town has been put on hold with three councillors opposing the move and several complaints being lodged by government and civil society institutions. In July, the Kurunegala Municipal Council had proposed that the total litigation cost of Rs. 4.8 million be borne by the council since the legal action was taken against its Mayor. However, only a sum of Rs. 2.18 million was initially approved and paid off for the purpose of investigation committees appointed by the Government, investigation committees appointed by the municipal council, and other legal fees. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, JVP politburo member Namal Karunaratne said: “Thushara Sanjeewa Vitharana, who carried out an illegal activity that broke the law by disregarding the Archaeology Protection Act, Public Property Protection Act, and the Municipal Council Act, is still evading the law. There are five police complaints; four complaints made by the Department of Archaeology and one from my end as a civil society representative requesting legal action.” Karunaratne noted that while his writ appeal over the requirement to arrest Vitharana is pending hearing at the Appeals Court, and is now set to be heard on 3 October, the court had expedited the hearing of the appeal filed by Vitharana on considering revoking the arrest warrant that was issued against him. Karunaratne had filed a writ petition on 27 July requesting Vitharana’s arrest. However, the hearing of it had been scheduled for 3 September, which was subsequently postponed to 3 October. In the meantime, the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court had issued an arrest warrant in the first week of August, after considering Karunaratne’s writ petition, for which Vitharana had obtained an appeal request on 8 August to delay his arrest. Due to the delay in hearing his appeal, the warrant had expired and was cancelled on 24 August. Later, the courts had revoked the arrest warrant for Vitharana.