Shashi Weerawansa released on previous bail pending Supreme Court appeal

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (August 20) ordered Shashi Weerawansa to be released on her previous bail pending a Supreme Court appeal over her two-year prison sentence and Rs. 100,000 fine for providing false personal information to obtain a diplomatic passport.

The order was issued when the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama for the reading of the relevant judgment. Weerawansa was present in court.

The Chief Magistrate noted that Weerawansa, the wife of former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa, was convicted by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in 2022 under the Immigration and Emigration Act and sentenced to two years in prison and fined Rs. 100,000.

She was convicted on May 27, 2022, after being found guilty of providing false personal information to obtain a diplomatic passport.

Weerawansa later appealed against the conviction and sentence, but the Colombo High Court dismissed her appeal on June 11, 2026, upholding the Magistrate’s Court decision.

Her lawyer informed the court today that she had since filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the High Court judgment.

The lawyer said the Supreme Court is due to take up the appeal next month for the confirmation of facts and requested that Weerawansa be released on her previous bail until then.

The Chief Magistrate observed that she had exercised her right to appeal to the Supreme Court within 42 days of the High Court decision.

Accordingly, subject to informing the Supreme Court of the matter, the Chief Magistrate ordered her release on the bail conditions previously imposed.

Weerawansa had earlier been granted bail on May 31, 2022, on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 5 million each. A travel ban was also imposed preventing her from leaving the country.

The case was ordered to be called again on September 27, 2026.