Four Batticaloa residents who took part in a protest against the acquisition of Tamil land for ilmenite mining were arrested on Thursday and released on bail later that day.
Vakarai police said the four had been arrested following complaints from the ilmenite factory’s staff that the protesters had damaged its entrance and had rioted within the premises.
Locals gathered in front of Vakarai police station demanding the arrested individuals be released, following which Sri Lanka navy and army personnel were deployed to the area to disperse the crowds.
The Valaichchenai magistrate judge granted the four bail with a bond of 100,000 rupees each and the case was adjourned for further trial on September 11.
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