Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Chaminda Wijesiri, who was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison for threatening and assaulting two police officers, has been granted bail by the Badulla High Court after considering his appeal.
Wijesiri was sentenced on July 28, 2026, after being found guilty of charges including wrongful restraint, assault, causing injuries, issuing death threats and causing bodily harm to two police officers in 2019.
The case involved Wijesiri, his driver Bandula Rathnayake and a police officer attached to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD). The court had found Wijesiri and Rathnayake guilty of four charges, while MSD officer Rasika Karunathilaka was found guilty of three charges. The court was later informed that Rathnayake had died.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred near the Bandarawela town roundabout on or around February 10, 2019, following an argument that allegedly arose after a police jeep overtook the vehicle carrying Wijesiri and his group.
The prosecution alleged that the group subsequently obstructed the police jeep, threatened the officers with death and assaulted them, causing injuries.
The latest bail order was issued after the High Court considered Wijesiri’s appeal against his conviction and sentence.
