Magistrate releases 27 protesters on bail

The Colombo Chief Magistrate released 27 individuals on bail when they appeared at courts this morning on  charges of contempt of court regarding a recent protest near the Bribery Commission. Notice was issued on April 24 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya to the 27 individuals to appear at the court after they staged a protest in front of the Bribery Commission on April 23, violating a court order. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, Medagoda Abhayathissa Thera and Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera were among those who were issued notice. Dullas Alahapperuma, Bandula Gunawardena, Janaka Priyantha Bandara, Roshan Ranasinghe, Sarath Weerasekara, Udith Lokubandara, Jayantha Ketagoda, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Gamini Lokuge and SM Chandrasena were the UPFA MPs who were issued notice. Meanwhile, Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Western Province Councilors Udaya Gammanpila and Roger Seneviratne were also issued notice.