Wimal Weerawansa Files Rs. 1 Bn Compensation Case Against Government

COLOMBO (News 1st) MP Wimal Weerawansa has filed a lawsuit in the Colombo District Court, seeking Rs. 1000 million in compensation from the government.

The case, filed by Attorney-at-Law Dinesh de Silva, alleges that the Immigration Department and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made false accusations against Weerawansa, claiming he used illegal passports, which severely damaged his reputation.

The petition names two authorized officers of the Immigration & Emigration Department and the Attorney General as respondents.

According to the complaint, on October 23, 2015, Wimal Weerawansa was at Katunayake Airport, preparing to depart for Dubai to attend conferences in three foreign countries. 

It added that when he presented his diplomatic passport, Immigration and Emigration officers found it to be an inactive one. Subsequently, CID officers had arrested him without reasonable cause, presented him to the Negombo Magistrate's Court, and later released him on bail.

The MP points out that after nearly nine years of legal proceedings, the court acquitted him of all charges under the Immigration and Emigration Act. 

He claims that the wrongful arrest and prosecution caused significant damage to his reputation. 

The petition seeks Rs. 1000 million in compensation for the harm caused by the alleged malicious actions and lack of a fair investigation.