CID Grills Navy On Missing

By Easwaran Rutnam

The Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) questioned a navy officer yesterday over allegations that the Navy was involved in the disappearance of several people.

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that in 2010 the CID had launched investigations into complaints received over the disappearance of some youth and their parents between 2007 and 2009 in Colombo and other areas.

He said that based on statements received as part of the investigations, it had been revealed that some navy officers and others were involved in the disappearances.

Ajith Rohana said that a navy officer was questioned by the CID yesterday over the allegations and more statements are to be recorded from others in the coming days.

Meanwhile a demonstration was staged in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee when the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons began public sittings in the area yesterday.

The people who staged the demonstration raised doubts over the commitment of the Commission to find those missing.

The Commission said that 37 of the 53 people invited to make oral statements during the sittings in Kuchchaveli yesterday, had appeared before the Commission to make the statements. Separately, the Commission had also registered 28 new complaints.

With the mandate of the Missing Persons Commission being extended for another six months, the Commission began sittings in Trincomalee yesterday.

Public sittings are being held in Trincomalee till March 3.