The Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued arrest warrants for former minister Wimal Weerawansa after he failed to appear in court today (19).
Weerawansa is accused of causing public disruption by blocking roads and protesting in front of the United Nations office in Colombo during a visit by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Prince Said Al Hussain in 2016.
The complaint was brought before Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna de Alwis, but both Weerawansa and another defendant in the case, MP Weerakumara Dissanayake, were absent from court. Dissanayake’s lawyer submitted a medical report on his behalf. The Magistrate expressed frustration with the repeated non-appearance of the defendants, stating that the case cannot proceed if they fail to attend court.
Several other defendants in the case, including MPs Mohammad Mussammil, Jayantha Samaraweera, Roger Seneviratne, and Piyasiri Wijenayake, appeared in court. The Magistrate warned that if the defendants continue to avoid appearing in court, they will be remanded, and the case will proceed regardless.
The case has been adjourned until September 11.
