Mr Ratwatte was produced before the Teldeniya magistrate’s court on 20 February and remanded till 4 March. On the same day, he was admitted to Colombo hospital on grounds of ill health. Four days after Mr Ratwatte’s arrest, his sons Lohan and Chanuka surrendered to the police and were also remanded till 4 March. They were both admitted to hospital in Kandy’s Bogambara prison claiming to suffer from high blood pressure.
The police have been hunting for the Ratwatte brothers since December in connection with the massacre of the Muslims, on warrants issued by the Teldeniya court. The Kandy court had also issued a warrant for the arrest of Lohan Ratwatte on charges of possession of illegal arms. After the people in Madawela demonstrated accusing the police of inaction, the police claimed that several teams were involved in the investigation. But on 31 January, the senior police officer Kulasiri Udagampola who was in charge of the investigation was removed to other duties.
Presidential Security Division (PSD) Director Nihal Karunaratne surrendered to the Kandy court on 4 February and was released on bail. The warrant was issued after he allegedly threatened a police officer in Maturata with death. A statement from the Presidential Secretariat says that the allegations are false and that Mr Karunaratne will continue to lead the PSD. Nine persons, including five PSD members, are in custody on charges of shooting, threatening and murder attempt on UNF parliamentarian SB Dissanayake, in the run-up to general elections.
Matale Mayor Rohana Dissanayake was denied bail for the seventh time by the Matale court on 26 February. Mr Dissanayake is in custody on charges of grave crimes during the election campaign. Central Provincial Council chairman Mahinda Abeykoon and two other members were brought under heavy guard from the Bogambara prison for the ceremonial opening of the council in Kandy on 14 February. They are also accused of committing serious violence in the run-up to and during elections.