The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has determined that the police acted unlawfully in the alleged 2016 motor accident involving former Minister Patali Champika Ranawake.

Delivering the verdict, the court found that the wife of the Minister’s driver, their child, and the driver’s mother-in-law were unlawfully detained in an attempt to locate the driver.

Former Acting Director of the Colombo Crimes Division, Neville Silva, and Chief Inspector Meththananda were found guilty of unlawful arrest and restricting the driver’s freedom.

The two officers were ordered to compensate the petitioner with Rs. 250,000 each.

Additionally, the court ordered the government to compensate the petitioner with Rs. 10,000 and directed the Police Commission to initiate a disciplinary inquiry against the two officers.