Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala arrested

Former Speaker Asoka Ranwala was arrested while receiving treatment at the National Hospital following a road incident that took place in Sapugaskanda.

Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wutler, the Police Media Spokesperson, stated he was arrested on charges including dangerous driving and failing to prevent a crash.

The incident occurred last night (11), when the jeep driven by Parliamentarian and former Speaker Asoka Sapumal Ranwala, who also serves as the Biyagama electoral organiser for the National People's Power, collided with a car driven by a woman and a motorcycle.

The Parliamentarian, two women travelling in the other car, and a young infant were injured and hospitalised as a result of the collision.

After being admitted to Kiribathgoda Base Hospital, Parliamentarian Asoka Sapumal Ranwala discharged himself voluntarily and was then admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo.

The two women initially admitted to Kiribathgoda National Hospital were later transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo for further treatment, and the young infant was transferred to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo.

It is reported that at the time of the incident, the Parliamentarian was driving his jeep from the Heiyanthuduwa, Deniyamulla area towards Siyambalape Demo Junction when it first hit a motorcycle and subsequently collided with a car travelling from Demo Junction towards Sapugaskanda.

Sapugaskanda Police are reporting the facts concerning the incident to the Mahara Magistrate's Court.

Further investigations are being conducted by Sapugaskanda Police Station OIC Chief Police Inspector W. G. Suraweera and Traffic OIC Chief Police Inspector J. Dissanayake.