Police to seek Interpol help to arrest Muthuhettigama
December 27, 2014 05:04 pm
Sri Lanka Police today said that it will seek assistance from Interpol to arrest the Deputy Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion Nishantha Muthuhettigama, who has left the country despite a warrant issued for his arrest.
On Wednesday (24), the Baddegama Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Muthuhettigama in connection with the recent torching of an election stage of Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena in Wanduramba.
He has been accused over the alleged arson attack, damaging two shops in Udappuwa and for attempting to forcefully release two suspects in police custody.
However, it was reported yesterday that the deputy minister left the country for Singapore. Despite the warrant issued for his arrest, Muthuhettigama had reportedly boarded a flight at around 12.40am by traveling through the VIP terminal at the Katunayake Airport.
Speaking to Ada Derana regarding the matter, police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said they intend top seek the assistance of Interpol in order to apprehend the suspect.
However, speaking to an Ada Derana reporter after leaving the country yesterday, Muthuhettigama had said that he was visiting Singapore with two close associates for a holiday and that he would return to the island before the Presidential Election.
Emphasizing that he had the utmost respect for the judiciary, Muthuhettigama said that he had decided to leave the country for a vacation due to the mental stress he had suffered in the wake of recent events.
