The Police Headquarters confirmed that a person admitted to the Colombo National Hospital has accused Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga of assaulting him with a cricket bat, causing injuries to his hand.

In a media release issued today, Police Headquarters said that G.W. Piyasena, a resident of Melwatta in Rajagiriya, is currently receiving treatment at Ward No.72 of the Colombo National Hospital and that he has given a statement to a Welikada Police officer claiming a group including the Chief Minister, who lives in a neighboring home, assaulted him with a cricket bat.

The incident had taken place at around 5.00pm yesterday (21).

However, police today said that Gampaha District MP Ruwan Ranatunga, a brother of Prasanna Ranatunga, had lodged a complaint with Welikada Police alleging that a knife-wielding Piyasena had climbed the wall of their residence in Melwatta, Rajagiriya and verbally abused them.

The MP claims that he was at home with his wife and two children when Piyasena had spouted filth at them at 5.00pm yesterday and that this had prompted him to step outside with his personal security guard to question his actions.

Ruwan Ranatunga has requested the Welikada Police to investigate the verbal abuse hurled at him by the individuals known as Piyasena.

The release further says that the Welikada Police Station is further investigating both complaints.

Ada Derana earlier reported that 69-year-old Piyasena claims he was brutally assaulted by a group of individuals including a prominent Western Province politician over a dispute when the victim had attempted to pluck several King coconuts from a tree located near the politician’s residence last evening.