Bail for Crown land encroachers

By Shelton Hettiarachchi

Eight suspects who had encroached on Crown land in the Randenigala reserve area were released on personal bail by the Nuwara Eliya magistrate Ms. Amali Ranaweera on February 29. These suspects were among a large number of refugees relocated in a camp after their properties were damaged in a landslide in Hanguranketa on January 12.

They had attempted to encroach on Crown land and were arrested by Walapone police. They were not satisfied with living conditions in refugee camps in Hanguranketa where they were temporarily made to reside by the authorities.

The eight members from 15 families were taken into custody by Walapone police on February 24 for trespassing on Crown land. They were produced before the Nuwara Eliya magistrate the next day. The magistrate released on bail the suspects with instructions that the case would be called again on July 4.