Kotte Mayor arrested over attack on Opposition Leader

The Mayor of the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Janaka Ranawaka, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting the Opposition Leader of the Municipal Council, police said.

UNP’s Sugath Appuhamy, who has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, has filed a complaint with the police claiming he was attacked by a group including Ranawaka due to a demonstration staged yesterday against alleged corruption within the council. Appuhamy and several opposition councilors were reportedly engaged in the demonstration outside the Council premises when a group led by the Mayor and other UPFA councilors had arrived there, resulting in the exchange of blows. Welikada Police had received three separate complaints since yesterday’s incident including from the Opposition Leader, UPFA Councillor Premalal Athukorala and Mayor Janaka Ranawaka.