Six acquitted over 2022 arson at Wickremesinghe's private residence

Six suspects have been acquitted and discharged over the burning of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence during the 2022 Aragalaya protests, and travel bans on all suspects in the case have been lifted, Hiru News reported.

Those discharged include Aragalaya activist Priyath Nikeshala and former Member of Parliament J. Sri Ranga. Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena made the order on 7 October.

Why the case ended

The ruling followed submissions by the Criminal Investigation Department when the case was called. The CID informed the court that the Attorney General had advised the release of the suspects.

Police also told the court that six other suspects had previously been released on the Attorney General’s instructions in the same matter.

The Magistrate described as a serious matter the fact that the Attorney General had issued advice on individual suspects at different times, rather than disposing of the case as a whole. He then ordered that travel bans on all suspects be removed, and directed that the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration be notified.

Background

Wickremesinghe’s private residence on 5th Lane, Colombo, was set alight on 9 July 2022, the day mass protests overran the President’s House and other state buildings at the height of the economic crisis. He was Prime Minister at the time and became President later that month.

A series of arrests followed over the months and years afterwards, with suspects variously remanded, bailed and placed under overseas travel bans while the CID investigation continued.

Not reported

Hiru’s filing does not give the names of the four other suspects discharged on Tuesday, does not state the total number of people who had been named as suspects, and does not say on what basis the Attorney General advised release. It does not record whether the case against any suspect remains open, nor whether any party intends to challenge the order. No comment from the Attorney General’s Department, the CID, the discharged suspects or Wickremesinghe is reported.

No other verified Sri Lankan newsroom appears to have filed on the order at the time of writing.

Sources: Hiru News.