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Why is sacristan still in custody?: Rev. Cyril Gamini Fernando

03 Feb 2022

  • Rev. Cyril Gamini says reasons for detention unclear in church grenade case
BY Buddhika Samaraweera National Catholic Social Communication Centre Director Rev. Cyril Gamini Fernando said that the Catholic church does not comprehend why the sacristan of the All Saints’ Church in Borella, Francis Munindran, is still being held in custody, although it appears that he was not involved in the incident of a hand grenade being found placed in the said church. Speaking at a media briefing held yesterday (3), he said: “A few days ago, a hand grenade was found in the All Saints’ Church in Borella. The Police later arrested three employees of the church and a youth who had come to pray. Three of them including the youth worshipper were released on 2 February. But Munindran is still being held and we do not understand the reason for him to be detained further.” Claiming that the Attorney General’s (AG) Department’s officials had told the court that Munindran should be further investigated, Fernando claimed that it is clear when studying the chain of events pertaining to the incident with regard to the discovery of the hand grenade that Munindran was not involved in it. “As civilians, it is clear to us that Munindran has nothing to do with this. He seems to be an innocent person. He served in the church for many years. Importantly, the Police has stated that the retired doctor who was arrested in connection with the same incident had admitted that it was he himself who had placed the hand grenade in the church. If so, why is Munindran still being detained?" A hand grenade was found in the premises of the All Saints’ Church on Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha opposite the Welikada Prison in Borella at around 4.40 p.m. on 11 January. The hand grenade was discovered following a tip-off received by the Police and it was later defused by the Police Special Task Force. Meanwhile, Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya on 2 February ordered the release of two employees and a worshipper at the All Saints’ Church who were previously in remand custody on suspicion of placing the said hand grenade at the church. When the case regarding the incident where a hand grenade was found in the All Saints’ Church was taken up before the court on 2 February, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who appeared on behalf of the complainant, said that it had been revealed that there was no link between the suspects who worked in the church in connection with the incident. Therefore, he requested the court to release the three suspects including the youth worshipper on the instructions of the AG. Accordingly, the three suspects named Krishnasamy Sivasundaram, Indika Perera, and Prasad Miguel, were ordered to be released by the Additional Magistrate. Peiris also told the court that the AG’s position on Munindran, who is in custody over the same incident, would be presented within a week.


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