Wimal bailed out - Arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport

Wimal bailed out - Arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport

BY Kavindya Chris Thomas and Gagani Weerakoon-2015-10-24 

Leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Wimal Weerawansa was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over an issue with his passport after he was stopped at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday (23).
Police Media spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara told Ceylon Today that Weerawansa was stopped at the BIA after he had presented an expired passport. According to ASP Gunasekara, Weerawansa had obtained a VISA for the expired passport, which he had told Police recently had been misplaced.

He added that the MP was handed over to the CID for questioning regarding that issue by Immigration and Emigration Department officials and was later on arrested and produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court. Weerawansa was released on a cash bail of
Rs 10, 000 and two surety bonds of Rs 10 million by Negombo Magistrate Thilakarathne Bandara, Police said.
Meanwhile, NFF sources told Ceylon Today that MP Weerawansa was about to board a plane to Napoli, Italy, yesterday morning, to attend a series of lectures when he was initially stopped by officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, citing several inconsistencies in his VISA and passport. Weerawansa had then resolved the matter and was about to board the 10:05 a.m. flight to Napoli, Italy when several CID officers had intercepted him and began questioning him, the source said.

The CID had quizzed him about the two passports and he was not allowed to board the flight. Weerawansa had misplaced his diplomatic passport and had obtained another passport which he had presented at the BIA yesterday. However, according to the sources, the passport he had presented had apparently been the diplomatic passport he had reported to have been misplaced.
Weerawansa was supposed to travel to Napoli, Italy, for a series of lectures on the UNHRC Resolution and in protest of the Geneva resolution, organized by overseas Sri Lankan organizations, which were to commence on 25 October. According to the sources, this series of lectures is being conducted in Napoli, Paris and London.
The case was adjourned until 28 October.