By T. Farook Thajudeen

A case filed in the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court by the Cinnamon Garden Police against National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa and six other party activists for allegedly causing public nuisance by blocking the public movement and the traffic at Bauddhaloka Mawatha in Colombo on February 06, 2016 thus causing disturbance to the people and the normal flow of traffic was postponed for July 15 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage fixed the case to be heard on July 15 as the leader of the organized protest, Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa was not present in Court yesterday when the case was taken up for trial.

Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe PC appearing on behalf of Mr. Wimal Weerawansa informed the Magistrate that his client Weerawansa was not present in court yesterday as he had to attend a special session in Parliament yesterday and today. The Counsel moved to fix the trial for a further date. Magistrate Gamage fixed the trial for July 15.

Seven suspects including NFF leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, Jayantha Samaraweera, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Piyasiri Wijenayake, Roger Seneviratne, Mohammed Muzammil, Don Lucian and Chaminda Jayalal had been named as accused in the case.

On February 6, 2016, the NFF led by Wimal Weerawansa staged a protest march against the visit of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein opposite the UNO Office at Bauddhaloka Mawatha.

The Cinnamon Gardens Police had charged the accused who organized the procession for failing to obtain the prior permission from police to organize the protest march.

They further alleged that the organizers had also used loudspeakers without a valid licence and had also blocked the main road at Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards Havelock Town, triggering disturbance to the people and the normal flow of traffic.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage warned the 2nd prosecution witness to appear before Court on the next trial date.