A double cab belonging to the Road Development Authority (RDA), which was being used for the political activities of Wasantha Senanayake from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party, was recently stopped at a roadblock on the Warakapola-Anguruwella road.
Wasantha Senanayake, a relative of Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake, is a former State Minister and a current member of the main opposition, SJB.
The vehicle, with license plate PC 4755, was stopped by police officers during a roadblock as it traveled from Anguruwella to Warakapola. The 39-year-old driver, a resident of Dummaladeniya, Warakapola, did not have a valid driver’s license. During questioning, the driver revealed that the cab was being used for Mr. Senanayake’s political office in Warakapola.
Upon further inspection, the police found that the cab had no proper documents. When they checked the revenue license displayed on the windshield, they confirmed it was a vehicle owned by the RDA. The police then informed the Officer in Charge of the Galapitamada Police Station, who ordered the vehicle and driver to be brought to the station.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver’s brother was involved in the murder of Dunumale Sarath which took place on July 14 in the Galapitamada area. The driver also admitted to driving the vehicle while his license was suspended for a prior driving under the influence of alcohol offense.
Police also learned that the driver had been using the cab to drop off employees from Mr. Senanayake’s office and had used it for election-related activities during the last presidential election. When Mr. Senanayake was informed about the arrest, he contacted the police to gather more information.
A company representative later called the police, stating that he had recently purchased the cab from the RDA but had not yet transferred the vehicle’s registration into his name. The police raised concerns about the condition of the vehicle, questioning why the RDA, a government agency, sold it in such a good condition.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle’s revenue license had been renewed as recently as August 5, and it was still registered under the Director of the RDA.
The vehicle was seized by the police, and the driver, identified as Sameera Lakmal, was produced before the Ruwanwella Magistrate’s Court. Based on the police’s findings, the court remanded him in custody until October 23.
