Court issues arrest warrant on MP Wimal Weerawansa

Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna de Alwis yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa for not being present  in Court in connection with a case filed against him for engaging in a protest while blocking roads against the visit of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein in 2016.

A lawyer did not appear before the Court yesterday (19) representing the Member of Parliament and the Court issued warrants for his arrest.

The Magistrate mentioned that due to the non-appearance of the defendants, the trial continued to be delayed and if this continues to happen the case may have to be taken up with defendants in remand custody.

The Cinnamon Gardens Police had filed the case against National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa and several others who gave leadership to a protest which blocked the main roads near UN office in Bauddhaloka Mawatha in 2016, causing a disturbance to the people and the free movement of traffic.

The Magistrate ordered that the case be taken up again on July 19.