By Madura Ranwala and Norman Palihawadana
Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika would be questioned last over the jeep-motorcycle mishap that occurred at Rajagiriya on Sunday night (February 28), in which two youth received injuries, one seriously, Senior Deputy Inspector of Police (SDIG), Pujith Jayasundara told The Island yesterday.
He said the investigation in that regard was being conducted by a special police unit under his supervision.
Asked why the police could not question the minister after two sworn affidavits had been submitted to the police headquarters last Friday identifying Minister Ranawka as the driver of the jeep at the time of the mishap, SDIG Jayasundara said that police would question other witnesses at the time and then question the minister last.
The injured are Sandeep Gunawardena and Manul Abeysundara. Sandeep, the rider, is still being treated in the intensive care unit of the National Hospital for brain injuries.
Eyewitnesses, Gayashan Vinura and Mohamed Sufai, were accompanied by their lawyers when they visited the Police Headquarters last Friday evening to submit their affidavits.
The special team probing the incident questioned Minister Ranawaka’s driver for about two hours yesterday and recorded his statements.
In the two affidavits they submitted to the police headquarters that day, the eye witnesses have said that they mentioned in their complaint to the Welikada police that Minister Champika had driven the vehicle that knocked down Manul and Sandeep. The policeman took down their complaint in a small book and got them to place their signatures thereon, they have said, adding that they were not allowed to read their statement.
They have said they were kept waiting for about one hour from 11.45 p.m. by the policeman, who claimed the traffic police personnel were not available. While they were waiting, the vehicle involved in the accident, bearing registration number KT 7545 was brought to the police station by some policemen, the eyewitnesses have said.
Courtesy:The Island