Court employees protest against SLA's attempted attack on Judge

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 July 2006, 09:09 GMT]
Employees of the Jaffna Magistrate Court picketed outside the court house Tuesday afternoon protesting against the attempted attack by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on Additional Magistrate Srinithi Nandasegaran's official car on Sunday and threats to her life, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, the three SLA soldiers who were detained for threatening the judge were released on Rs. 50,000 surety bail Tuesday, legal sources in Jaffna said.

The picketers carried placards and shouted slogans urging the Sri Lanka Government to allow the judicial system to function independently and to ensure safety to Court employees from Security Forces, sources said.

The picketing lasted for one hour from 12.30 p.m.

Although large number of SLA troops were present near the Courts, the symbolic protest concluded without any incidents, striking employees said.

Judge E.Vignarajah, while releasing the suspect SLA soldiers on bail, directed the SLA commanders that the said soldiers should remain in Jaffna district and that the soldiers should only be allowed to perform duties in areas where there is no civilian presence.