A special police team, tasked with the investigation, yesterday commenced interrogating 16 suspects arrested in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, in spite of calls by several political parties to take punitive action against people involved in Monday’s attack on the MTV/MBC head office at Braybrook Place, all 16 suspects taken in by the police at the scene have been given police bail.

Sources told The Island that the suspects had been enlarged on police bail, though the investigation would continue.

Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody confirmed the release of the suspects by the Slave Island police.The MTV/MBC yesterday (March 23) offered financial rewards to anyone, who could help them identify the attackers.

They said that Rs. 50,000 would be offered to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the attackers, who were showed in all their news bulletins. They said that information could be faxed to Sirasa on 0114792780.

Sources said Sirasa employees had used water cannon to drive back attackers, who made several attempts to storm the premises. Sources said that there had not been a previous case of ordinary people using water cannon against a group of trouble makers.

Sirasa also released pictures of an SLTB bus bearing the number NA 6897 belonging to the Kelaniya SLTB depot, which had been allegedly used by the attackers. Sirasa employees told The Island that the police could have easily thwarted the attack and seized the bus if they had really wanted to.

Sirasa alleged that some of the attackers had been involved in a previous protest against it on August 11, 2008.

Courtesy: Island