KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka — A magistrate in northern Sri Lanka on Monday gave the police one more month to finish investigating an allegation that a lawmaker from the governing party assaulted a village official who was carrying out relief work during Cyclone Ditwah last year.
The complaint concerns K. Ilankumaran, a member of Parliament for Jaffna District from the National People's Power, the coalition led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He is accused of assaulting a Grama Niladhari, or village administrative officer, in Kilinochchi in late November, while the official was on duty helping with relief operations as the cyclone struck the region.
Mr. Ilankumaran did not appear in court when the case was called several times in January. He later surrendered to the court and was released on bail. On Jan. 20, the Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court gave the police about eight months to complete their inquiry and decide whether to bring charges.
When the case was called on Monday morning, the police did not say how they intended to proceed. The magistrate, Mr. Krishanthan, ordered the officer in charge of the local police station to appear in person and adjourned the hearing until 1:30 p.m.
When the hearing resumed that afternoon, the police asked for another month to carry out further investigations and submit a report. The magistrate agreed, but directed them to file a charge sheet by the next hearing if the investigation found grounds to prosecute Mr. Ilankumaran.
The case was adjourned until Oct. 26.
M.A. Sumanthiran, a President's Counsel and former member of Parliament for Jaffna, represented the Grama Niladhari at both sessions. Mr. Ilankumaran attended the hearing. He has not been charged.
