Former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Shani Abeysekara, and Sub-Inspector Sugath Mendis have been discharged from the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court (MC) proceedings linked to a case involving former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Vaas Gunawardena.

Reports indicate that all four suspects, including Abeysekara and Mendis, were discharged today (26) by the Gampaha Magistrate. The decision followed submissions by the Attorney General’s Department and counsel representing the suspects, despite objections from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

Abeysekara, the former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) who headed the CID, had been accused of fabricating evidence in the case against ex-DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son, and four other police officers.

Vaas Gunawardena had previously been convicted and sentenced to death for the contract killing of businessman Mohamed Shiyam in May 2013.

Abeysekara was arrested in July 2020 and faced charges under the Offensive Weapons Act and Explosives Devices Act for allegedly fabricating evidence in the investigation involving former DIG Vaas Gunawardena.