Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa has been arrested after his altercation with police last week

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa was arrested this morning after he was summoned to record a statement at the Thalangama Police Station.

It was reported last week that Weerawansa was summoned following an altercation with police on May 18 at the War Heroes' Memorial grounds in Battaramulla, near the Parliament complex.

A post on Weerawansa's social media confirmed his arrest by police after arriving to make this statement.

Context

Weerawansa and a group of his supporters attempted to enter the War Heroes' Memorial on May 18 while rehearsals for the commemoration of National War Heroes' Day (May 19) were taking place.

In footage widely shared on social media, Weerawansa was seen pushing a police officer who was preventing him from entering the commemoration site.

Weerawansa then intervened to have two people who had been arrested at the scene released, after boarding a police jeep.

In a statement released later that day, police said they would take legal action against Weerawansa and those involved for obstructing police duties.

Weerawansa and a group of around 35 individuals had attempted to enter the monument premises without authorization in a manner that disrupted official duties and rehearsal activities, police said.

Speaking to the media, Weerawansa later claimed he only wanted to lay a floral tribute and leave, as he had done last year.