He has given the order in view of opposition to the arrest of Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera over the possession of an unlicensed baby elephant.

Meanwhile, a weekend newspaper reports a political conspiracy in the Thera’s lawyers not seeking bail for their client.

The CID arrested him on March 09 and produced him before courts under the public property act.

Had his lawyers Dinesh Dodamgoda and Kanchana Ratwatte applied for bail, the Thera could have been bailed out.

Dodamgoda was close to former UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake, but now works for ex-minister Basil Rajapaska, while Ratwatte engages in politics with Namal Rajapaksa.

Both are members of the joint opposition’s ‘Viyathunge Handa’ and had used this case to promote their political objectives.

They are juniors to president’s counsel Kalinga Indatissa, Uduwe Thera’s lawyer, but he is presently overseas.

These lawyers are conspiring to create a public outcry against the Thera’s imprisonment, and through that to rally support for a public rally to be held by Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 17.

Salley got involved

Without their knowledge, presidential advisor Asath Salley got lawyer Neville Abhayaratne to file for bail on March 10.

Abhayaratne asked that Uduwe Thera be allowed to attend the funeral of the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya chapter without an escort by prison officials.

On March 11, the judge enlarged the Thera on three sureties of Rs. six million each.

When asked as to whether he got involved in this on advice by a VVIP, Salley said that could be so.

However, police say Uduwe Thera’s being given bail has now become a legal hurdle against arresting anyone involved in elephant rackets.