Police today said that Kurunegala District MP Nimal Wijesinghe, popularly known as Nilwala Wijesinghe, who has been accused of assaulting a Grama Seva officer, has fled from his residence and the area.
Wijesinghe is charged with assaulting Ananda Wimalasiri, the Grama Seva officer in-charge-of the Kurunegala-Ambakote 617 division.
A police team had visited the Parliamentarian’s residence this morning in order to arrest him, however he had already fled from his home and the area, police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told Ada Derana.
He also stated that they still have no information regarding the UPFA MP’s current whereabouts.
Wimalasiri was assaulted on Saturday (July 19) after he had reportedly attempted to prevent a group of individuals illegally felling trees within the Ambakote Grama Niladhari Division.
When the Grama Seva officer, on being informed of the illegal act, had confronted the individuals, the men had stated that they were MP Nilwala Wijesinghe’s men and therefore urged him to refrain from interfering in their affairs.
They had later contacted the MP over the phone and Wijesinghe had asked them to hand the phone over to the Wimalasiri. However, the Grama Seva officer had refused to speak with the MP, saying that he cannot do so while on official duty.
Shortly afterwards, MP Nilwala Wijesinghe had arrived at the location and had verbally abused the official in filth before assaulting him.
Wimalasiri is currently receiving treatment at the Kurunegala Hospital.
The incident was also condemned by the Sri Lanka Grama Niladari Association, which has demanded an impartial investigations by the police and the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
