December 23, Colombo (LNW): A police constable attached to the Sooriyakanda Police Station, who was taken into custody following a reported altercation involving National People’s Power (NPP) parliamentarian Shantha Pathma Kumara, has been released on bail, police confirmed.
The officer was produced before the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court yesterday and released on two sureties of Rs. 200,000 each. The matter has been scheduled to be taken up again on January 26, 2026.
Police said the incident stems from complaints filed by both parties on the night of 20 December. The constable initially reported that he had been assaulted near the Kalugala Temple by the MP and several others, and claimed that his motorcycle had been forcibly removed during the confrontation.
Later that night, MP Shantha Pathma Kumara submitted a separate complaint, alleging that the officer had blocked the road by positioning a motorcycle in front of his cab and had attempted to attack him.
Following the incident, the constable was admitted to hospital for treatment. Medical notes recorded the presence of alcohol on his breath, according to police. While urine tests reportedly showed no evidence of narcotic substances, blood samples have been sent to the Government Analyst’s Department to determine whether alcohol was consumed.
Subsequently, the constable was arrested in connection with the incident on multiple charges, including wrongful obstruction, as investigations into the conflicting accounts continue.
