Crowd hugs Mr Ponnambalam outside Kilinochchi Magistrate Court following his release

Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam was released on bail after he was arrested this morning. 

This morning, Mr Ponnambalam was arrested at his home in Colombo this morning and was taken to Kilinochchi police station before being taken to Kilinochchi Magistrate Court. 

Mr Ponnambalam was due to table a special motion in Parliament today regarding the assault and threats to life issued towards him by Maruthankerny police last week. The police department has since named him as an 'accused person' in the incident where he was assaulted and a loaded gun drawn on him by police officers in plain clothes.