The Gampaha High Court acquitted and released four individuals, including Major General Aruna Deshapriya Gunawardena, who were accused of killing three people and injuring approximately 50 others during a shooting incident involving a protest by local residents.

The protest, demanding clean drinking water, took place in Rathupaswala, Gamapaha on the 1st of August 2013.

The court ruled that the Attorney General failed to establish the charges against all the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

The case against four individuals, including then-Brigadier Aruna Deshapriya Gunawardena, was heard by a three-member High Court bench comprising Judges Nimal Ranaweera, Nishantha Hapuarachchi, and Sahan Mapa Bandara.

On August 1st, 2013, during a five-day peaceful protest that began on July 27th, 2013, local residents were allegedly attacked and shot for demanding the removal of a factory due to contamination of underground water from the factory, and access to clean drinking water, in Nedungamuwa, Gampaha.

Three people, including two school students, lost their lives in the incident, and approximately 50 others, including nearly 10 additional students, were injured.

The Brigadier and others faced over ninety charges, with nearly 70 witnesses listed during the trial.

In response to the verdict, the Rathupaswala victims have announced their intention to request the Attorney General to appeal the High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court.