Sri Lanka Police said legal action will be initiated against former MP Wimal Weerawansa and a group of around 35 individuals after a tense confrontation at the National War Hero’s Monument in Battaramulla on Monday afternoon.

According to the Police Media Division, the group attempted to enter the memorial premises without authorisation while preparations were under way for the 17th National Victory Day ceremony scheduled for May 19 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Officials had gathered to rehearse the event, which the Ranaviru Seva Authority says will host more than 2,700 attendees, including for the first time large numbers of Tamil and Muslim war hero families from the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Police said the group’s actions “obstructed rehearsal activities and interfered with the duties of officials present at the site.” Officers stationed at the memorial prevented entry and later moved those gathered away from the premises, the statement said. Newswire reported that the standoff was caught on video.

NewsFirst, in a separate report citing scene footage, alleged that Weerawansa physically struck a police officer after attempting entry through several gates. The broadcaster said he was seen forcing his way forward and stumbling at one point before all gates were sealed by security personnel. NewsFirst also reported that Weerawansa subsequently entered a police jeep and demanded that officers remove handcuffs from an individual who had been taken into custody for allegedly obstructing police duties; the restraints were then removed and the crowd dispersed. The Police Media Division reiterated that legal action would be taken against Weerawansa and others involved.

Weerawansa, leader of the National Freedom Front, has been an outspoken critic of the NPP government’s approach to war heroes’ commemorations. He is separately facing charges in two open court dockets: a 2026 protest case before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court tied to a 2016 demonstration outside the UN Office in Colombo, and an ongoing Mallakam firearm case.

Monday’s incident is the first publicly reported physical confrontation between an opposition figure and police at a war heroes commemoration this cycle.

Sources: Newswire — police statement, Newswire — initial report, NewsFirst — assault allegation.