Sri Lanka Police have ordered former National Freedom Front parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa to appear before the Thalangama Police Station on Thursday to record a statement in connection with the May 18 incident at the War Heroes Memorial near the Parliament grounds.
According to police, the Officer-in-Charge of the Thalangama Police Station issued the summons. The alleged incident occurred on May 18, when Weerawansa, along with a group of individuals, is said to have entered the area near the memorial and used criminal force against on-duty police officers.
Police said Weerawansa has been formally informed that failure to appear before the authorities as instructed will result in legal action being initiated against him at the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court.
The summons follows a Kaduwela court order on May 20 directing police to complete their investigation and submit a report before formally naming anyone as a suspect. Weerawansa’s counsel, attorney-at-law Kamal Wijesekara, told that court his client was prepared to appear voluntarily.
The May 18 confrontation occurred during the week marking the 17th anniversary of the end of the conflict. NewsFirst earlier reported that footage from the scene showed Weerawansa pushing past officers and striking one; police said legal action would follow against approximately 35 individuals in addition to the former MP. Weerawansa is also separately facing proceedings in the Fort Magistrate’s Court over a 2016 protest-related case and in the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court over a firearm matter.
Source: NewsFirst.
