A security officer assigned to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has lodged a formal police complaint following an alleged assault by a television cameraman outside the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Sept. 30. The altercation occurred near the court’s exit gate as Wickremesinghe was leaving the premises following a hearing in an ongoing case filed against him by the Criminal Investigation Department.
During the departure, the cameraman reportedly struck the security officer on the head with a camera while the officer was actively providing protection to the former president. The force of the strike resulted in injuries that required the officer to be hospitalized for medical treatment. Multiple journalists and media personnel present at the venue to cover the legal proceedings reportedly captured the incident on video.
Key Developments
- A security officer protecting former President Ranil Wickremesinghe filed a police complaint after being struck on the head with a camera outside the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
- The physical confrontation took place near the court gate following a hearing in a case initiated by the Criminal Investigation Department.
- The assaulted security officer was subsequently hospitalized for his injuries.
- Other media members covering the former president’s appearance reportedly recorded footage of the altercation.
Following the incident, the United National Party raised serious concerns regarding the adequacy of protective measures deployed at the court complex. The party also questioned whether the security breach pointed to a premeditated plan to compromise the physical safety of Wickremesinghe during his court appearance.