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Kelaniya medical students injured in pre-dawn attack

03 Feb 2022

 
  • Captured car linked to Arundika Fernando’s State Ministry
  • Sarath Weerasekera instructs IGP to probe
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera Three Kelaniya University medical students who were injured in an attack by a group of persons in the male hostel of the University’s Medical Faculty in Ragama at around 3 a.m. yesterday (2) have been admitted to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama. Speaking to the media yesterday, the students stated that a group of persons who had arrived in two cars had broken into the hostel at around 3 a.m. yesterday and assaulted them. The Police stated that three medical students who were injured in the attack have been admitted to the Ragama Teaching Hospital. Meanwhile, one of the said group of persons and a car belonging to them had been seized by the students and been handed over to the Ragama Police. The car is said to be one that belongs to the Coconut Development Authority and an official identity card of a member of State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification Arundika Fernando’s personal staff has also been found in it. However, speaking to the media yesterday, Fernando said that he would resign from his post if it was proven through an investigation that he approved or ordered the said attack. The Police stated that the attack may have taken place due to the intervention of a third party in a clash between two groups of students at the Ragama Medical Faculty recently. Meanwhile, making a special statement regarding the incident, Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera stated that he had instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne to conduct a formal and full investigation into the incident. He also said that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in charge of Kelaniya has deployed two special police teams under the supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) – Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon. “A car belonging to a state institution that was involved in the incident and its driver have been seized by the students and handed over to the Police. In addition, a full investigation is to be carried out to find the other suspects involved in the incident. I have also instructed the IGP to enforce the law against all those involved, irrespective of rank,” said Weerasekera. According to Senior Police Spokesman SDIG Ajith Rohana, six suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack and are to be produced before court.


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