Wimal Weerawansa arrested

The leader of the National Freedom Front, former minister and former Member of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa, was arrested by the Talangama Police this morning (25). This arrest was made in connection with incidents of obstructing rehearsal activities of the recent War Heroes Commemoration ceremony and obstructing the duties of the officers present there.

Training activities for War Heroes' Day, which fell on May 19th, were organized on the evening of the previous day, May 18th, at the War Heroes' Monument grounds near the Parliament complex. The police state that on that occasion, Wimal Weerawansa and a group arrived at the location to commemorate the war heroes, and they unlawfully entered and behaved in a riotous manner, obstructing the ongoing rehearsal activities.

Regarding this incident, a formal complaint was lodged with the police by Retired Brigadier Pahala Walawwe Senerath Bandara Kohona, Chairman of the Ranaviru Seva Authority. Accordingly, the Talangama Police, who initiated a comprehensive investigation, also took steps to report the facts of the matter to the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court on the 20th.

Although Mr. Weerawansa had been informed to appear at the police station last Friday to give a statement regarding the investigations, he had stated that he would not be able to come that day and would appear before the police today (25). Accordingly, police officers extensively questioned the former MP who arrived at the Talangama Police Station this morning, and thereafter, this arrest was made. The arrested Mr. Wimal Weerawansa is scheduled to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court today.