Magistrate orders arrest of UNP UC member for forgery

Sarath Malalasekera

COLOMBO: The Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena yesterday directed the National Child Protection Authority officials to arrest Registrar Dr. W. T. P. Ariyaratne, who is a UNP member of the Kalutara Urban Council, and produce him in court.

Dr. Ariyaratne is alleged to have issued a forged birth certificate in respect of a one week old infant to a foreigner at Moragolla,in the Aluthgama police area.

Refusing an anticipatory bail application on behalf of Dr. Ariyaratne by President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, Judge Weerawardena ordered Chief Inspector W. T. D. Wijesena of the National Child Protection Authority to arrest Dr. Ariyaratne and produce him in court.

Answering Judge Weerawardena, CI Wijesena said that Dr. Ariyaratne is alleged to have prepared and issued a forged birth certificate to a foreign woman stating that the infant was born to her at the Kalutara Hospital. In fact the infant was born to a Sri Lankan woman at the Kalutara Hospital, CI Wijesena told court.

CI Wijesena object ed to the anticipatory bail application in respect of Dr. Ariyaratne and told court that he is a suspect in the case before court.

CI Wijesena also moved court to grant permissions to obtain a DNA test of the foreign woman and the infant. Judge Weerawardena allowed an application by CI Wijesena to obtain statements from the suspects now in remand custody. The nine suspects who were taken into custody in connection with the case were further remanded till August 16.