A suspect in the murder case of TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj was released on bail earlier today.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Nirosha Fernando granted bail to Captain Samantha Munasinghe on a cash bail of Rs25,000 and a Rs500,000 surety bail.
Mr Munasinghe earlier this month filed a fundamental rights petition, alleging illegal detention by the CID.
Mr Raviraj was assassinated in Colombo in November 2006, at a time when the capital was heavily fortified by Sri Lanka's military. The government was accused of being behind the attacks by the TNA, diaspora organisations and the UNP. The US led international criticism of the government and urged it to conduct an investigation.
Then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered an inquiry and two suspects, Nalaka Mathagaweera and Aruna Shantha Ediriweera, were arrested in 2007. Mr Rajapaksa requested assistance from Britain’s Scotland Yard, who sent a team to work with the Criminal Investigation Department, who looked at evidence. Nothing came of the inquiry.
Raviraj murder suspect files right petition (18 June 2015)
Vehicle used in murder of Tamil MP found (05 June 2015)
DNA tests to be carried out on suspected killers of Tamil MP (21 Apr 2015)
Arrests (again) over killing of TNA MP Raviraj (31 Mar 2015)