Criminal Investigation Department filed a case before Negombo Magistrate yesterday, against UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa for allegedly attempting to leave the country using an invalid diplomat passport.

Weerawansa insisted that he was not guilty of attempting to leave the country misusing an invalid diplomat passport after he was charged.

Weerawansa was arrested by Katunayake International Airport authorities on 23rd October 2015 when he allegedly attempted to leave the country using an invalid passport. He then filed a complaint with the police stating that he lost his passport which was used to leave the country for few years by then, and obtained a new passport.

However, later on 23rd October, Weerawansa had used the passport he claimed to be lost and which was canceled due to the complaint, while attempting to leave the country.

Immigration officials had informed the MP that his passport was invalid and handed him over to the CID division in the airport. Weerawansa was attempting to use the passport to travel to four countries including France and Dubai from an Emirates flight.

Department of Immigration and Emigration said that Controller General of the department should be informed if lost passports were found. Using a cancelled passport is a serious offense, the department stated.