Champika’s driver quizzed over accident

The driver of minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was questioned by Welikada police yesterday (07) for nearly two hours in connection with a jeep, said to have been driven by the minister, knocking down a youth.

Ranawaka has rejected claims, made by two friends of the injured youth that he had been driving at the time of the accident.

Previously too, police recorded a statement from the driver, who has maintained that the minister was not at the wheels.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the police headquarters has received three complaints regarding the accident.

Two of the complaints are against minister Ranawaka, which say he had fled after the jeep he had been driving knocked down a motor cyclist.

The IGP has handed over investigations to the senior DIG in charge of the western province, and ordered that an initial report be submitted by March 10.

A lawyer too, has lodged a complaint, claiming the allegations against the minister were distorted.

Police did not give a clear answer as to whether Ranawaka had been questioned over the incident.