Nugegoda Magistrate Ruwini Jayawardena has ordered the remand of Shashi Prabha Ratwatte, the wife of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, until November 7 on charges of possessing an unregistered luxury vehicle.
The police discovered the Lexus luxury car during a raid on a three-story residence in Embuldeniya, Mirihana, on October 26. Investigations revealed that the vehicle lacked both registration documents and licenses.
Authorities found that the number plate KY 6864 was actually registered to another vehicle owned by Shashi Prabha Ratwatte. Evidence indicates that Lohan Ratwatte utilized the car with this number plate on October 7, 2021, contradicting statements from both Lohan and Shashi Prabha, who claimed the vehicle belonged to a deceased Coordinating Secretary. CCTV footage and media recordings show Lohan exiting the vehicle on that day and heading to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, alongside additional evidence confirming his use of the car.
Further investigations into the seized vehicle indicated that Lohan Ratwatte had indeed visited the Human Rights Commission on October 7, 2021, while using the car associated with registration plate KY 6864. A search of the Motor Vehicle Registration Department confirmed that this number plate is registered to a vehicle owned by the former State Minister’s ex-wife. Police attempted to contact the ex-wife, a resident of Kandy, but her phone is currently out of service.
A senior police officer noted that investigators have reviewed a video clip showing the former State Minister, currently in remand, exiting the vehicle in front of the Human Rights Commission and later re-entering the car. This footage has been broadcast on two YouTube channels.
Additionally, investigators have received information indicating that the former State Minister also traveled in the vehicle on the Kurunegala Expressway. As a result, the Director General of the Road Development Authority has been instructed to provide relevant video footage and DVRs. Orders have also been issued to the owners of the YouTube channels Voice Cube and Lanka File to supply unedited footage from the pertinent dates.
In her statement to police, Shashi Prabha Ratwatte claimed the vehicle was brought to her home by Lohan Ratwatte’s coordinating secretary, who later died under mysterious circumstances from a gunshot wound in Kandy.
Lohan Ratwatte was initially arrested in Kandy and remanded after refusing to cooperate with the police investigation. Shashi Prabha Ratwatte later appeared in court with legal representation and was also remanded until November 7.
Authorities have indicated that further investigations are ongoing, and additional details regarding the illegally assembled vehicles may emerge.
