Lankaenews editor Bennet Rupasinghe released

Police made a request to further remand him, but Kaduwela Magistrate Jayaki de Alwis granted bail on Rs, 10,000 cash bail and Rs. 300,000 personal bail.

Mr.Rupasinghe was advised not to influence the complainants in any way.

The Police said they continued with investigations and that the statements had been obtained from concerned mobile phone companies.

No specific findings

Police told courts that no specific findings or progress have been made.

Lawyers for Mr.Rupasinghe argued that since police had not put forward any reasons for opposing bail based on the law.

Lawyer also said his client (Mr.Rupasinghe) would co-operate fully with the police investigation to the arson attack.

Next hearing will be on 7th July 2011

Protest

Before the proceedings, a protest was held just near the courts.

Family members, friends, journalists, human rights activists, opposition parliamentarians were present at the protest, which called for media freedom.

Mr. Rupasinghe was arrested by police when he went to give a statement to the Wellampitiya police station for allegedly threatening a brother of one of the suspects in custody over the arson attack on Lankaenews office in Malabe.