Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandana Kalansooriya today seriously reprimanded the Secretary of Sri Lanka Tawheed Jamaat Abdul Razik over inciting religious disharmony and making comments disrespectful to Buddhism, before granting him bail.

The Magistrate noted that the suspect has completed a degree from a university and asked where he studied. When it was said that he attended the University of Kelaniya, the magistrate inquired as to whether it was a university where only one community studied.

He commented that in the university, all communities get together in any disputes, in the interest of the students. This is how the suspect was able to finish his studies, the magistrate added.

Furthermore, the magistrate asked if the suspect received the Mahapola Scholarship. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, the magistrate said that Mahapola is funded by the tax money of all the Sri Lankan people irrespective of the community. As such, the suspect has no right to make comments against one community, the magistrate noted.

Razik was released on a cash bail of Rs 10,000 and two sureties of Rs 1 million each. If he made another disrespectful comment against any community, it will be taken as a violation of bail conditions and he would be remanded, the judge warned.