IGP, CID Chief make serious charges against Chief of Defence Staff
Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera dropped a bombshell this week.
He complained to Defence Secretary Hemasiri
Fernando, under whose
Ministry the Police Department comes, that
Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS), Admiral R.C. Wijegunaratne, has accused a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Inspector of having “connections with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).”
The officer was carrying out an investigation against the CDS. To his credit, IGP Jayasundera cancelled the transfer order when it came to light that the officer was only doing his duty fearlessly.
The Police Chief ’s letter to the Defence Secretary and a response from the senior DIG in charge of the CID went viral in the social media. The Sunday Times has been able to verify that both documents, somewhat sensitive in nature, are authentic.
IGP Jayasundera’s letter dated November 19 says, “Chief of Defence Staff Admiral R.C. Wijegunaratne gave me a mobile phone call on 16.11.2018 to notify me about the Security Council meeting discussion held on 13.11.2018. At the meeting, it was said that Inspector Nishantha de Silva, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), had connections with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“According to the telephone call, I called for observations, recommendations and reports on IP Nishantha de Silva by sending letter marked…….to Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police at the CID on 16.11.2018.” The senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne had forwarded his report where the following information has been revealed, the IGP has said:
There was no evidence confirming that the officer mentioned had LTTE affiliation and he was not involved in any illegal acts.
The officer is committed and carries out his duties exceptionally well and prosecutions have been carried out in many of the cases and the offenders have been found guilty.
The allegations made against IP Nishantha de Silva that he is connected to the LTTE are false, baseless and done with prejudice. The Police intelligence or any investigation unit has not forwarded any complaint against this officer. However, according to the advice issued on 18.11.2018 by His Excellency the President as the Minister in charge of the subject, via a telephone call ………in keeping with service requirements ordered that IP Nishantha de Silva be transferred to the Negombo Police range from the CID.
Among the investigations Inspector de Silva has been handling are the cases against Admiral Wijegunaratne over harbouring suspects who were allegedly responsible for murders, abductions, the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickremetunga and the abduction and torture of journalist Keith Noyahr.
IGP Jayasundera later cancelled the transfer order. Questions over the matter were raised at the post-cabinet news briefing on Thursday. Spokesperson Dayasiri Jayasekera refuted the reports that President Sirisena had given such an order. However, the Sunday Times has confirmed that such an order had gone out to the IGP.
In a separate letter to IGP Jayasundera rebutting the claims, Senior DIG (CID) Ravi Seneviraratne has said:
“……... Also the current CDS Wijegunaratne has been named as suspect in case 9527/18 filed before Fort Magistrate courts and the court has ordered to arrest him over charges he provided shelter and security to Navy Lt Commander Hettiarachchi Mudiyanselage Prasad Chandana Hettiaarachchi who is a suspect for abductions and murders and wanted to be arrested by IP Nishantha Silva.
“I am submitting a letter to you…… that the current CDS Wijegunaratne …. is not suitable to hold a high post with responsibility. I understand that you have already reported this to the Defence Secretary. It shows that Admiral Wijegunaratne’s attempt is seen as a move to bring influence on the ongoing investigations by making false and baseless allegations against the chief investigating officer.
“It is clear that the actions of the current CDS are a punishable offence under the Witness Protection Act and hereby I am submitting this report to expedite the action against him.”
CID detectives said yesterday they had still not been able to execute a court order to arrest the CDS. He had not turned up at the CID for his statements to be recorded, they said.