2016 protest against UNHRC: Chief Magistrate warns politicians who do not appear before court

Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna de Alwis yesterday (19) warned that the case relating to the 2016 protest opposite the UN compound, Colombo would have to be heard after remanding all suspects – members of current Parliament and ex-MPs.

The Magistrate said so after issuing an arrest warrant on National Freedom Front leader MP Wimal Weerawansa for not appearing before the court yesterday morning.

Former JVP MP Weerakumara Dissanayake, who is also a suspect in this case, submitted a medical report through his attorney informing the court of his inability to attend.

Other defendants in the case, ex-MP Piyasiri Wijenayake, MP Mohammed Muzammil, MP Jayantha Samaraweera and a former Provincial Council member were present in court yesterday.

Later, the case was ordered to be recalled on 11 September, 2023.

In this case, charges had been filed against the suspects for causing public inconvenience by blocking the roads around the United Nations (UN) Office in Thummulla, Colombo, when the then UN Human Rights Commissioner, Prince Zeid Al Hussain visited Sri Lanka in 2016.