Former MP J. Sri Ranga to be arrested

• It is alleged that the suspect former MP had on March 30,  2011 caused the death of the police officer at Settikulama

 By Sithum Chaturanga   

Vavuniya Magistrate yesterday ordered the arrest of former  Parliamentarian J. Sri Ranga on the charge of interfering with the  evidence of a case and intimidating the witnesses in a road accident  that caused the death of a police sergeant.  

It is alleged that the suspect former MP had on March 30,  2011 caused the death of the police officer at Settikulama in Vavuniya  while driving his unlicensed vehicle. 

Police told court that when the  vehicle bumped against a garden wall, the police officer occupying the  seat near the driver had received serious injuries and died. He is  alleged to have taken two witnesses to a secret location by van and  interfered with evidence in an attempt to conceal the truth of the  incident. As a result, the police had reported to court that the deceased  sergeant 36759 G. Udaya Jayamini Pushpakumara had driven the vehicle  at the time of the incident. Later the investigations conducted by the  Police Special Investigation Unit on the request of the relatives of the sergeant  revealed that the former MP had driven the vehicle and caused the  accident and that the witnesses had refrained from giving evidence under  intimidation.   The Magistrate issued the arrest warrant on the request of  the police. The suspect former MP who had taken ill was not present in  court. The case was postponed for March 27.       

• The Magistrate issued the arrest warrant on the request of  the police