The Chairman of the Nawalapitiya Urban Council and 7 of his associates who were arrested and remanded for gambling during curfew hours have been released on bail today (06).

The Hatton District Judge had ordered the release of the suspects on a personal bail of Rs. 100,000 and scheduled the case to be taken up again on July 07.

The suspects were arrested on April 30, by Ginigathena Police for engaging in gambling by violating quarantine regulations at a tourist hotel in Ambagamuwa, Ginigathena.

The cash used for gambling, several bottles of toddy, the chairman’s personal vehicle, and two vehicles belonging to his associates were also taken into police custody.

After the suspects were produced before Hatton District Judge on May 01, he had ordered to remand them until today (06) and to direct them to a PCR test at the Kandy Teaching Hospital through the prison officers.

When the suspects were brought before the district judge today, the police had made a request to further remand them for another 14 days and to move them to a quarantine centre since the investigations on two of the seized vehicles are still underway.

The defence attorneys pointed out that their clients have pleaded guilty to violating quarantine regulations, however, noted that the suspects had been gambling for money.

Hence, the defence attorneys had sought the district judge to release their clients under any bail conditions.

Taking the submissions into consideration, it was ruled that directing the suspects to quarantine again is not unnecessary as their PCR test report submitted to the court have indicated that they are COVID-19 negative.