The girl who has been arrested along with a cobra at Cleopatra Club in Kollupitiya is firm that she retains the ownership of the snake, according to her lawyer.
President’s counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne
told Colombo Fort magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne today (Sept. 27) that a
fundamental rights petition would be filed in the Supreme Court to claim
the cobra.
The girl, Nirosha Wimalaratne alias Dilani,
cannot be prosecuted over the fauna and flora protection ordinance or
preventoin of cruelty to animals ordinance, said the lawyer, pointing
out that she had looked after the cobra well.
The lawyer requested that she be freed, but Kollupitiya police objected, saying charges would be filed against her.
The magistrate ordered police to file the charges before October 11.
According to a medical report submitted to
the court, the girl remains in perfect mental health and had not used
the cobra in a sexual way.
Once outside the courthouse, she said she could not go to sleep without the pet snake.