Udayanga Weeratunga admitted to prisons hospital due to sudden illness

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga who was in remand custody at the Colombo Magazine Prison, was admitted to the Welikada Prison's hospital due to a sudden illness. He was transferred to the Welikada Prison Hospital due to the lack of medical facilities at the Magazine Prison. Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested yesterday (February 14) at the Bandaranaike International Airport and was remanded till the 17th of this month, upon the orders of the Fort Magistrates court. The Criminal Investigation Department informed the Fort Magistrate yesterday that the investigations into the case were very complex and therefore the suspect should be questioned for several days. Senior Superintendent of Police W .Thilakaratne, who led the inquiry said, he needed time to investigate the documents relating to the MiG deal, and local and foreign bank accounts. The CID further added that the Attorney General should be consulted on how the investigations should be conducted. Several politicians commented on Udayanga Weeratunga's arrest: Convenor of the Voice Against Corruption, Wasantha Samarasinghe says;

"Why did Udayanga Weeratunga suddenly believe it was good to return to the country? In the recent past, the Rajapaksa's transferred all senior officers of the CID and the FCID and replaced their allies in those positions. Now, these cases have to be discussed with new individuals. Against this backdrop, Udayanga Weeratunga felt it was fit to be remanded as he can live in comfort. When he returned to the island, he was arrested and then remanded. Generally, a sick prisoner is taken to the doctor. But in Udayanga Weeratunga's case what did they do? A female doctor had been on duty. She had been asked to visit Udayanga Weeratunga and inspect his health condition. How is this? The doctor had refused to visit him and had asked that he be brought to her. Upon the government's advice, a doctor who was on leave had been asked to inspect his condition. He was then deemed unwell."

UNP MP, Arjuna Ranatunga also speaking on the matter said;

"Gotabaya Rajapaksa came into power claiming to do the right thing. We must now observe whether the law is being implemented differently on Udayanga Weeratunga. This is because all the rouges are returning to the country fearlessly. The wrongdoers are also returning. This clearly shows that the current government came into power to protect the thieves and the wrongdoers."

UNP MP, Wijepala Hettiarachchi says;

"The thieves have now begun to return to Sri Lanka. The perpetrators of the fraudulent Airbus deal have returned. Sri Lanka's former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga who is the main suspect in the MiG aircraft deal has also returned. They have been arrested. We do not know what will happen to them in the coming days. We have a suspicion as to whether these thieves will escape the law by being acquitted of certain charges and be appointed to key positions in the government once again."

Meanwhile State Minister of Investment Promotions, Keheliya Rambukwella said;

"If the law is not being enforced, how are they being taken into custody? The first step has been undertaken."

When the State Minister was questioned by a journalist on the frequent visits to being hospitalized after being imprisoned, he said;

"This happens sometimes. They might feel shocked after certain verdicts. Who can provide a certification that such incidents will not happen."

Chameera Perera also speaking on the same issue says;

"We now understand how all the deals worked out and the perpetrators were protected. The previous regime protected all the thieves of its predecessor. We know how the Avant-Guard case was heard and later swept under the carpet. We all know how the subject ministers appointed by Ranil Wickremesinghe operated. The present government is acting in the same manner. They are protecting all the thieves. The present government at one point, made a huge fuss about the Central Bank bond scam. But what's happening to the Central Bank bond scam now? Action has not been taken against a single perpetrator. We all know how much was stolen. But not a single perpetrator was arrested in the past 4 years."

There've been numerous instances in which high profile individuals have been hospitalized after being remanded.

• Arjun Aloysius, who was arrested over the bond scam, admitted to the prisons hospital
• Jaliya Wickramasuriya, accused of money laundering, hospitalized. Leaves the country after being granted bail
• Wimal Weerawansa, hospitalized until being granted bail
• Basil Rajapaksa, in relation to the Divineguma misappropriation case, hospitalized while in prison
• Sarana Gunawardena and Sajin Vaas Gunawardena admitted to paying wards at the National Hospital
• Former DIG Nalaka Silva and Prasanna Nanayakkara admitted to the Prisons Hospital until being granted bail
• Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundara, remanded over the April 21st attacks, admitted to the National Hospital and Police Hospital respectively.
• Chanuka Ratwatte, accused of money laundering, admitted to a paying ward at the General Hospital.
• Former MP Duminda Silva, sentenced to death, admitted to the Prisons Hospital.
• Nissanka Senadhipathi admitted to a paying ward at the National Hospital a day after being remanded
• Former Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne admitted to a private hospital due to heart issues after being arrested by the CID
• Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena's wife admitted to the Prisons Hospital
• And now, Udayanga Weeratunga

During an event in Narahenpitiya today, MP S.M.Marikkar commented on the same matter, criticizing the government's actions. He said;

"Udayanga Weeratunga who was involved in the MIG deal and was arrested following an INTERPOL red notice, arrived in the island yesterday. He was arrested by the CID and thereafter remanded. He has now been admitted to the Prison Hospital. However, he was fit and healthy to travel onboard an aircraft. He had to be admitted to the hospital only after he was interrogated by the CID, and was remanded. So this is what we call, family rule. No matter how hard Gotabaya Rajapaksa tries to govern this country his own way, Mahinda Rajapaksa and his clan will not allow it."