Magistrate issues warrant for Shashi Weerawansa’s arrest

• Former minister’s wife faces charges of forging documents to obtain a passport
• Magistrate issues arrest warrant after accused fails to appear in court citing medical reasons but with no medical certificate to support claim

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Shashi Weerawansa, who is facing charges of using forged documents to obtain a passport. The warrant was issued after Weerawansa failed to show up in court when the case was taken up yesterday. 

She is the wife of former Minister Wimal Weerawansa. 

Her lawyer informed the court that his client had informed him by telephone of her inability to be present in court as she was unwell. However, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris informed the Court that no medical certificate has been produced in court to support the claim of illness.  

He said the accused had failed to appear in court on the last day the case was taken up as well, citing medical reasons. The Magistrate, after taking the submissions into consideration, issued a warrant for Weerawansa’s arrest. The case will be taken up again on 18 August.