CID Seeks Details Of SF’s Security Personnel In Lasantha’s Murder Probe

• Magistrate grants CID motion
• DMI Chief ordered to release details
• SLT, Mobitel ordered to release data

Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The Sunday Leader reliably learns that the incumbent Army Commander had met with the Attorney General the day before the CID moved the motion in a bid to prevent it from being filed in the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. Be that as it may, the Attorney General after closely perusing the progress of the investigation so far and the contents of the motion had given the green light to the CID to proceed.

The CID last Tuesday (14) filed a motion seeking a court order to get the DMI to release details of the security personnel who served the Army Commander at the time of Wickrematunge’s murder. Field Marshal, MP Sarath Fonseka was the Army Commander at the time of Wickrematunge’s assassination on January 8, 2009.

Accordingly, the CID had, through the motion, requested court to order the head of DMI, Suresh Salley to provide the CID with the daily occurrence book (DOB) of Major Ansar serving at the DMI during the time Wickrematunge was assassinated. The court had ordered the DMI head to provide the CID with the required details or provide an explanation to court as to why the DOB cannot be given.

The Sunday Leader learns that the DMI had claimed to the CID that the DOB required for the investigation had been handed over to the Terrorism Investigations Department (TID) that previously handled Wickrematunge’s murder case during the former regime.

However, the TID, it is learnt, does not have a record of receiving the DOB in question.

“The Army needs to give a valid reason for its inability to submit the DOB. If it has been lost there needs to be records of an inquiry or a court martial held by the military to look into the matter,” a senior police officer told The Sunday Leader. The court has therefore ordered the Army Commander to ensure that the DMI cooperates with the CID or to appear before court and explain why the DMI head has failed to adhere to a court directive.

The magistrate also ordered the Sri Lanka Army to provide details of the security personnel from the Commando unit who served the Army Commander at the time of Wickrematunge’s murder.

Finally, the court also ordered Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel to provide the telephone data required by the CID for the investigation.

The lawyer appearing for the aggrieved party, Attorney at Law, Athula Ranagala said the Sri Lanka Army and its Commander will have to comply with the court directive and provide the details called by the CID before the next hearing of the case.

Ranagala said the case is to be taken up again on the 28th of this month.