Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama yesterday (29) ordered the Kuruduwatta Police to arrest and produce before court those who placed sureties of former Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) conveners Lahiru Weerasekara and Wasantha Mudalige, as well as Galwewa Siridhamma Thera and several others, after the accused failed to appear when two cases were called.

The cases relate to a protest demanding the abolition of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) and another demonstration.

Defence counsel submitted that some of the accused had travelled to another area on other business, but the Magistrate rejected this explanation. He noted that sureties are appointed precisely to ensure the accused appear in court, and when they fail to do so, the sureties themselves must present in the court with an explanation.

Accordingly, the Magistrate issued warrants for the persons who placed sureties and instructed that they be produced before court.