The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that 31 suspects, including several former Members of Parliament, have been identified in connection with the violent attack on the “Gota Go Gama” protest site at Galle Face on May 9, 2022.
Appearing before the Supreme Court, the State Counsel representing the Attorney General stated that indictments against the suspects are expected to be filed under the Criminal Procedure Code.
These details emerged when several Fundamental Rights petitions filed by protesters—alleging that the police and other authorities failed to prevent the attack—were taken up before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court yesterday(04).
The State Counsel further told the court that despite the presence of adequate police personnel and water cannons at the scene, they were not effectively deployed to control the situation.
He added that charges would be filed against the then Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon for dereliction of duty as the senior officer in charge at the time.
However, it was noted that criminal proceedings will not be instituted against the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Namal Rajapaksa, who were among the respondents named in the petitions. As a result, the petitioners agreed not to pursue their Fundamental Rights cases against the two.
After considering the submissions, the Supreme Court adjourned the delivery of its verdict on the petitions.
