The Court of Appeal was informed today that the police constable allegedly involved in an altercation with lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake on October 10 had previously been transferred to the Mount Lavinia Police Headquarters on disciplinary grounds.
President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, appearing on behalf of Wanninayake, told the court that the constable had been transferred from the Kesbewa Police Station in line with the Public Service Commission Procedural Rules. He raised concerns that the Inspector General of Police had not disclosed this information and questioned how the constable was assigned to duty at the Mount Lavinia Court premises.
Counsel Jayasuriya said a copy of the police transfer letter dated August 5, 2025, would be submitted to the court through a motion.
The two-judge bench, comprising President of the Court of Appeal Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, fixed the matter for January 14.
The order was issued during proceedings on a writ petition filed by Wanninayake seeking to prevent his arrest before being produced before the court.
The police constable had been arrested and remanded over allegations of assaulting Wanninayake following an argument regarding the removal of a vehicle from the Mount Lavinia Court premises and was later granted bail.
Lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake also surrendered and appeared before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court over the incident and was subsequently released on bail.
