Colombo 7 businessman arrested over assault on Iranian Ambassador

• Ambassador hospitalized
• Iranian Ambassador’s wife was also in the car when the businessman assaulted him 

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh has been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo after being allegedly assaulted by a businessman at the Colombo City Centre (CCC) car park.  

Police said that Buwaneka Mahasen Basnayake, 36, a resident of Ward Place, Colombo 07, was arrested and remanded over the incident.  

Police spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that an altercation reportedly occurred on Saturday evening when the Ambassador was trying to park his vehicle at the CCC car park. Following the assault on the Ambassador, the suspect businessman attempted to escape, but the Ambassador tried to prevent this by placing his hand on the car’s bonnet.  

In his complaint, the Ambassador mentioned that while he was trying to call the police, the suspect drove the car a few meters, causing the Ambassador to be thrown onto the bonnet.  

Police said that the Iranian Ambassador’s wife was also in the car when the businessman assaulted him.  

Police officers arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect. The Ambassador was subsequently admitted to a private hospital 
for treatment.  

The Kompannavidiya Police have obtained CCTV footage of the car park, but they noted that there were no cameras covering the area where the incident occurred.  

The lawyers representing the businessman informed the magistrate that their client was unaware that the individual he confronted was the Iranian Ambassador, and requested bail.  

However, Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala rejected the request and ordered that the suspect be remanded until Monday (20).