The Sri Lankan police have announced that legal action will be initiated against former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa and a group of supporters over an incident that disrupted rehearsals for the Sri Lanka's "Victory Day" ceremony near the War Heroes’ Memorial in Battaramulla on May 18.
According to police, a group of around 35 persons led by Weerawansa attempted to enter the memorial premises while final rehearsals and preparations for the event were underway ahead of the May 19 Victory Day commemoration of the Sri Lankan genocidal military. Authorities claimed the group interfered with officials and police officers on duty and attempted to unlawfully access a restricted area.
A tense situation subsequently arose between police officers and the group led by Weerawansa, with video footage circulating on social media showing heated exchanges near the entrance to the memorial grounds. Reports stated that police blocked the group from entering the site, citing ongoing preparations for the state ceremony. Wimal Weerawansa attempted to force his way through to "pay tributes to War heroes" and rolled on the ground in the process.
Responding to the incident, Weerawansa accused authorities of obstructing his "patriotic" commemorations and questioned why permission was required to pay tribute to dead soldiers.
“This is an era where war heroes need permission to keep a bouquet,” Weerawansa said in a statement issued following the confrontation.
He further alleged that despite prior notification being given to the Ministry of Defence regarding the floral tribute, police officers continued to prevent the group from approaching the memorial.
“No matter how many obstacles arise, no one can stop us from showing respect to the heroes who saved this land,” he stated.
Police, however, maintained that security personnel intervened because the group’s actions disrupted official rehearsals connected to the state commemoration ceremony scheduled to be held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Weerawansa, the former propaganda secretary and politburo member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna before later forming the National Freedom Front, has long cultivated a fiery Sinhala nationalist political image, earning him the Sinhala nickname “propaganda cannon” among supporters and critics alike.
The latest confrontation involving Wimal Weerawansa also came as the former minister remains embroiled in an ongoing court case linked to a 2016 protest held in front of the United Nations office in Colombo. On May 18, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that further evidence in the case against Weerawansa and five others be taken up on July 13. The case, filed by Cinnamon Gardens Police, alleges that the accused caused public nuisance and obstructed roads during a demonstration against the visit of former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Hussein.
The court notice and the renewed controversy surrounding Weerawansa’s actions near the War Heroes’ Memorial unfolded on the same day, further drawing public attention to the controversial politician.