October 14, Colombo (LNW): A police constable remanded in connection with an alleged physical altercation involving a lawyer within the premises of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court has been released on bail following a court order issued earlier today.
The case, which has stirred notable attention due to the parties involved, was taken up before Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara, who granted bail to the officer under two sureties of Rs. 100,000 each. In addition, the matter has been referred to the local Mediation Board, with instructions to submit a report on its progress by 17 November.
The incident in question occurred last Friday, when Constable Tharindu Dilhara was arrested for allegedly assaulting attorney-at-law Sanjeewa Anthony on court premises—a space meant to uphold the rule of law. The arrest led to his immediate remand custody until today’s hearing.
The courtroom was attended by representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, senior police officials, the injured party, and members of the Colombo Bar Association. Their submissions revealed conflicting accounts of what transpired during the confrontation.
Deputy Inspector General Jaliya Senaratne, together with the Officer-in-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Crimes Division, informed the court that several witness statements had been recorded. These included accounts from the prison bus driver, a Sub-Inspector, a female constable stationed at the court entrance, and even a Buddhist monk, among others who had come forward voluntarily. According to the police, none of the witnesses corroborated claims of physical assault.
They also requested court approval to retrieve CCTV footage from the premises, although it was noted that the surveillance system may have been non-operational at the time—a detail conveyed by a previous presiding judge. If footage is found to exist, the court ordered that it be examined by the Government Analyst.
Counsel representing the alleged victim presented video footage purportedly showing the confrontation, claiming that it clearly indicated verbal abuse and physical aggression. “This is not simply a matter of misunderstanding—there was an assault,” said President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe, acting for Mr Anthony. The police, however, challenged the reliability of the video, suggesting it could have been altered.
Appearing for the accused officer, lawyer Kamal Silva argued for leniency, noting that the constable was relatively junior, with six years of service and no disciplinary history. He added that releasing him would not pose a threat to public order nor aggravate tensions between the legal and law enforcement communities.
Deputy Solicitor General Wasanta Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department, echoed a sentiment of conciliation, expressing hope that the situation would not escalate into institutional conflict. He emphasised that the Attorney General’s involvement was neutral and proposed that mediation would be the most appropriate path forward.
Ultimately, Magistrate Amarasekara granted bail and directed that the issue be handled through mediation. The court will revisit the matter next month, pending the submission of a report from the Mediation Board.
