In an interesting turn of events, Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama, who was on an arrest warrant in connection with the attack on the opposition in Wanduramba, has left the country this morning.

Muthuhettigama has boarded flight number SQ468 from the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayaka at around 12.50 am to leave for Singapore.

Under usual circumstances, a person who is on an arrest warrant cannot leave the country from its main airport as there are heavy security measures with regard to passengers.

When asked by media as to why the Police did not take action ton arrest the Deputy Minister before leaving the country, the Police Media Spokesman had not given a satisfactory answer. "We will arrest him when he returns from Singapore," the Spokesman had said. 

it was also learnt that a brother of Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena had alerted the Police Emergency Unit on Muthuhettigama's attempt to leave the country.

Baddegama Magistrate Court on Wednesday (24) ordered the Police to arrest Nishantha Muthuhettigama. He was accused of damaging and burning the state of a Common Opposition meeting in Wandurama, along with a group of his supporters.

The Deputy Minister was "missing" after the arrest warrant was issued. Police have still not recorded a statement from him in connection with the incident in Wanduramba.

As a result of the attack on the stage, the Common Candidate of the Opposition had to address his supporters in Wanduramba, standing on a burnt and damaged stage. The Opposition lashed out at Police for not taking to prevent the attack on the venue of the opposition’s meeting.

When the Police finally took measures to arrest the suspects who allegedly carried out the attack, Muthuhettigama stormed the Police station and took the suspects away.