Four individuals, including the Chairman of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha, Thiagaratna Alwis have been admitted to hospital following a tense situation that arose at the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha on Friday morning.

The tense situation arose following the attempt made by a group of people to remove the Chairman from the council.

A ceremony to welcome Minister John Amaratunga was held opposite the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha on Friday morning. The ceremony was organised by a group of UNP members of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha. The minister who arrived at the ceremony, had left the premises following an inspection tour of the council.

When the council convened following the departure of Minister John Amaratunga,  a group of people had coerced Chairman Thiagaratna  Alwis to resign from his post, sparking a tense situation.

While the police was summoned to bring the situation under control, the Chairman left the premises under police protection. Thereafter, sessions resumed under the auspices of the Vice Chairman of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha, Sanjeewa Perera.

The injured, who include the Chairman of the Council, Thiagaratna Alwis and three UPFA members, are currently receiving treatment at the Ragama Teaching hospital.

Among the people who arrived to coerce the Chairman of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha to resign from his post was UNP member of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha, Royce Beno Fernando.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe said that an impartial inquiry will be held into the incident that transpired at the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha.

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