Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando, who was arrested over an incident of assaulting a suspect in police custody, was remanded until Thursday (30) by Hambantota Magistrate a short while ago.

He was arrested by Special Investigations Unit of Police Headquarters, Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara told Asian Mirror this morning.

Fernando was arrested regarding an incident in March 2014, where he stormed into the Ambalantota Police Station and attempted to attack and kidnap a suspect under police custody.

The controversial Mayor was known for the “toy pistol” incident where he threatened a group of UNP fact-finding MPs when former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power. In December 2014, he was once more involved in an attack on a group of artistes campaigning for the then common candidate Maithripala Sirisena.