National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa has been acquitted and released from the case filed over the use of an improper passport.
The Parliamentarian was acquitted of the case by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court when the case was taken up for hearing today (Apr 01).
The case was filed over MP Weerawansa’s attempt to fly overseas using a dormant passport in 2015.
It is reported that MP Weerawansa had provided an expired passport which consisted of his visa to travel overseas, but was informed at the airport of the state of the passport.
He had then obtained a renewed passport and had attempted to travel overseas again during which he had been arrested.
MP Weerawansa’s lawyer had informed the court that the Immigration officials at the airport had failed to arrest the MP the first time he arrived with an expired passport and had instead arrested him when he had arrived with a renewed passport.
The lawyer also pointed out that the Immigration and Emigration Department has informed that a valid visa on an old passport can be used to travel along with a renewed passport.
Taking into consideration these facts, the Negombo Magistrate’s Court acquitted and released MP Wimal Weerawansa from the case. (NewsWire)
