The Gampaha Magistrate court granted bail to Brigadier Anura Deshapriya Gunawaredena and a Sergeant who was arrested over the Rathupaswala shootings in 2013 earlier today (31).
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested Brigadier Anura Deshapriya Gunawardena and 3 other military persons for allegedly ordering troops to open fire on protesters demanding clean water in Rathupaswala in 2013.
Brigadier Anura Deshapriya was produced at the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court on August 25.
The army had come under intense pressure after soldiers fired on unarmed locals on August 1, 2013 in Weliweriya, killing three and injuring several others, as they protested against a factory which they say polluted their ground water.
Brigadier Gunawardena, who allegedly ordered troops to open fire at unarmed civilians, was later given a position in the Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkey, which had sparked even more controversy while the then main opposition UNP accused the ruling party of setting a bad example.
Following a hearing today, the Brigadier along with one of the subordinate Sergeants was granted bail.
