Former Navy Commander fails to appear in Court for fourth time

Presiding Judge reprimands Police for lethargy

The Colombo High Court trial-at-bar yesterday ordered to issue summons on former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda for the fourth time on his failure to appear before Court.

He was summoned to appear before Court on February 24 regarding the case on the alleged abduction of 11 youths between the period of 2008-2009 in

Colombo and its suburbs. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had filed a case against a group of Naval Officers, where Karannagoda has been cited as its 14th accused.

Court had ordered to issue summons through the Secretary of the Defence Ministry and ordered to mail a copy of summons to former Commander Karannagoda.

Court also ordered to deliver another copy of the summons to an employee at his residence or a relative, while another copy was to be displayed on a public space at his residence. Submitting a report to Court, the Present Navy Commander said that Defendant Karannagoda was not an employee serving under him and that he was not the head of his institution.

The report further states that, when Navy officers made attempt to deliver the summons to Beddagana residence of Karannagoda, he was not present at home.

The Acting IGP also submitting a report on the same matter, claimed that although the delivering of the summons was tasked with the Director of the CID, no one had been present at the Kirulapone and the Beddagana residencies of Mr. Karannagoda.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG)

Sarath Jayamanna informed Court that doubts arose as to whether the Intelligence Unit of the IGP was so weak to locate Defendant Karannagoda.

“Further defendant Karannagoda had testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) on February 18, 19, and 20, that was probing into the alleged political victimization of public officials during the previous government,” he said.

Presiding Judge Champa Janaki Rajaratne, stated that it was not an insignificant matter that the 14th accused, who also served as a top ranking officer in the Navy, was evading from presenting himself before Court.

The Presiding Judge further said that the police should be ashamed of the inability to hand over summons to the accused.