Police had identified and raided an office run by the main suspect arrested in connection with the recent racial violence in Kandy and for spreading racially explicit propaganda through social media, Widanapathiranage Amith Jeevan Weerasinghe in the Nattaranpotha area in Kundasale early last morning.
The investigating officers had recovered materials used to spread racial hatred, discord and violence, such as leaflets, posters, notices, letters, banners and thousands of letters and documents containing extremely racial content.
Convening a media briefing in Colombo, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said a special police investigation team had been appointed to also look into and conduct specialised investigations on the mobile phones used by the ten arrested suspects, the calls received and taken by them and the telephone networks used by them.
However, the police said photographs of these materials that were discovered in the office that was raided last morning, will be shown to the media during the next few days, as the TID teams investigating were currently engaged in taking inventory of these items. Among the seized items were also bank cheque books, various receipts of monies received by them, vehicle registration documents and hand bands with racial slogans. A microphone fitted with a logo of their organisation was also discovered believed to be used for media conferences.
Based on the statement given by the main suspect, police had also discovered seven bottles filled with petrol intended to be used for petrol bombs. In addition four computer CPUs were also recovered by investigation officers.
The ten suspects arrested on March 7 by the TID for spreading racially malicious content and instigating racial tensions are Widanapathiranage Amith Jeevan Weerasinghe, a resident of Kengalla, Nasnaran Pattige Sumedha Suraweera a resident of Kimbulgoda, Yakkala, Sampath Anura Sri Kumarasinghe a resident of Wewalawewa Dambulla, Arachchikumbure Sobhitha Himi from Kumbidikuliya, Bangadeniya, Asiri Chathuranga from Kurunduwatta, Chilaw, Isuru Priyankara Kumara from Rajawella, Sumith Chaminda from Handagiriya, Balangoda, Asanka Pradeep Weerasinghe from Kengalla, Jayanath Anton Gunaratne from Muruthalawa, Peradeniya and Rashmitha Bandara Mahawatta from Colombo road, Chilaw.
The racially motivated violence was unleashed with the burning of two shops in Theldeniya on March 4. From March 4 to 6.00 pm on Monday, a total of 280 suspects have so far been arrested by the police. Many of these incidents took place on March 5, 6 and 8.
There had been 445 incidents of causing damage to houses and shops, among them 423 incidents were reported in the Kandy police division, while 22 incidents were reported from other areas. With regard to causing damage to places of worship, 24 incidents were reported with 19 incidents being reported in Kandy and five in other areas. 65 incidents were reported where damage was caused to vehicles with 60 being reported from Kandy and five from other areas. As per injuries caused during these incidents, 22 were reported from Kandy with six being reported from other areas totalling 28 incidents of injuries.
So far 178 arrests have been made pertaining to these incidents with 59 arrests being made under the normal law and 119 arrests being made under emergency law. Fifty of those arrested have been released on bail while 128 are still in remand custody.
In relation to other areas,102 arrests have been made so far while 69 arrests were made under the normal law and 33 under emergency law. Forty five of them have been released on bail while 57 are still in remand custody.
The Police Spokesman also praised the mainstream media for acting and reporting in a responsible manner during the recent tensions. He said the IG had made special note of the media institutions and the assistance rendered to the police.
The security imposed in Kandy is still in force but the Police media spokesman added that the IG will take measures to reduce the security gradually. Based on the information gathered from the ten arrested suspects, the police have discovered a great deal of information and further information will come to light shortly, SP Gunasekara said. He noted that the TID and police officers are working tirelessly, day and night in connection with this incident especially in the Kandy area.