The second case filed against Shashi Weerawansa alias Udayanthi Ranasinghe, the wife of National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa, for allegedly submitting forged documents to obtain two passports was today fixed for trial by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court. Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis fixed the case to be heard on May 2.

On 27 May last year, Shashi Weerawansa was found guilty to the first case and she was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 100,000 for obtaining two passports including a diplomatic passport by submitting forged documents to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
However, she was released on bail upon filing an appeal in the High Court challenging the judgment of the Magistrate's Court.

The CID alleged that the accused had submitted birth certificates with forged names and dates of birth to obtain those passports. However, defence is expecting to raise objections against the charges under the Double Jeopardy principle (prosecution of a person twice for the same offence).

Attorney-at-law Buddhika Chandrasekara appeared for the accused.

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appeared for the CID.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)