Shashi Weerawansa sentenced for two years rigorous imprisonment 

• Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala declared Weerawansa guilty for forging documents to obtain diplomatic passport 
• Orders fine of Rs. 100,000; failure to pay will apply six additional months of jail
• MP Weerawansa’s wife appeals against prison sentence at Colombo High Court 
• Colombo Magistrate Court postpones to consider request on 30 May

By T. Farook Thajudeen

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday imposed a two-years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100,000 on Shashi Weerawansa, wife of former Minister and National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa.

The verdict was declared by Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala after she was found guilty of submitting forged documents to obtain a diplomatic passport.

The Magistrate also ordered the accused to pay a fine of Rs. 100,000 in addition to the imprisonment and an additional six months of jail, if she does not pay the fine.

In addition, the Chief Magistrate directed the Court Registrar to inform the Public Administration and Internal Affairs Ministry over the judgment, noting that the corrupt public servants are abusing their powers conniving with the MPs and big names.

Weerawansa is alleged to have obtained the diplomatic and general passports by submitting birth certificates with forged names and dates of birth. She had applied for a diplomatic passport in 2010 by submitting false personal information which was different to what appears in her previous normal passport that expired on 24 May 2009.

Subsequent to the judgment, the Defence Counsel filed a notice of appeal before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to be sent to the Colombo High Court.

The appeal requests that Shashi Weerawansa be acquitted and released from all charges.

The Colombo Magistrate postponed the request to consider bail and appeal made on behalf of Weerawansa till 30 May. Thus, the former Minister’s wife was imprisoned till Monday.