SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri Granted Bail After 18-Month Prison Sentence

by Staff Writer 24-08-2026 | 4:29 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Uva Provincial High Court has ordered the release on bail of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Chaminda Wijesiri, who had been serving an 18-month prison sentence, pending the outcome of an appeal filed by him.

The court directed that Wijesiri be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each.

The SJB MP was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment on July 28 after being found guilty of charges related to obstructing and assaulting two officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau.

In addition to Wijesiri, his driver Bandula Ratnayake had also been sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison in connection with the same case.

However, it was revealed during court proceedings that Ratnayake had since passed away.

The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred on or around February 10, 2019, in Bandarawela.

According to the indictment filed by the Attorney General, Chaminda Wijesiri and two others were accused of blocking a jeep carrying two police officers, verbally abusing them, assaulting them and issuing death threats.