July 21, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Inspector General of Police, N.K. Ilangakoon Friday (20) to conduct a broad investigation over the attack on the Mannar court complex.

The President had instructed the IGP to assign the investigation to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the police and question all individuals connected to this incident regardless of their ranks and status.

All the lawyers and judges boycotted the court duties yesterday paralyzing the country's judiciary over the incident in which a group of people irate over the court ruling had attacked the Mannar court complex and caused heavy damages to the building.

Further the Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Rishad Bathiyutheen has been accused of intimidating the Mannar magistrate over the phone to revoke an arrest order which was said to be against his supporters.

The Minister has threatened to instigate violence against the courts if the order is not revoked, the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka said in a media release.

The President has requested a report of the investigation as soon as possible.