By Roy Denish.
Police have begun investigating remarks made by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa about the remand of MP Namal Rajapaksa after the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered authorities to determine whether the statements could amount to contempt of court.
COLOMBO — Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa has launched a sharp attack on Tamil remembrance events honouring Thileepan, alleging that the commemorations are being conducted with government protection.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Freedom Front (NFF) office, Weerawansa alleged that “Tamil racists and extremists” were being given free rein in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
He further claimed that the rights of the Sinhalese population in those regions were being deliberately suppressed while the incumbent administration was placing undue pressure on members of the armed forces and the families of former presidents.
The remarks came amid mounting legal scrutiny of the former minister.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate whether statements made by Weerawansa during a political rally in Anuradhapura could amount to contempt of court.
The court-ordered investigation stems from a September 12 rally at which Weerawansa publicly criticised judicial decisions surrounding the remand of parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.
During court proceedings relating to the case, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, representing the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), submitted video footage of the speech.
Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama subsequently directed police to conduct a formal investigation into the remarks.
Weerawansa has frequently criticised Tamil political movements and post-war accountability initiatives. His latest comments come amid continuing political and legal debate over freedom of expression, minority commemorations, and the independence of Sri Lanka’s judiciary.
