- Working on instructions recived: Thalduwa
- ‘Ask the police’ Min. Secy.
The investigations that the Ministry of Public Security recently directed the Police to expedite do not include the murders of journalist/editor and attorney Lasantha Wickrematunge and ruggerite Mohammed Wasim Thajudeen, or the disappearance of journalist/cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda, which have been widely discussed in the past.
The Public Security Ministry had instructed the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya to expedite investigations into seven high-profile cases.
When queried regarding the non-inclusion of the murders of Wickrematunge and Thajudeen and the disappearance of Ekneligoda in the said list, Public Security Ministry Secretary, SDIG (Retired) Ravi Senevirathne wanted The Daily Morning to contact the Police and make queries, if any. "It is the Police that carries out investigations, not the Ministry. So, ask them."
The Daily Morning then inquired regarding the matter from Police Media Spokesperson and DIG, attorney Nihal Thalduwa, and he said that it is only with regard to the said seven investigations that the Acting IGP had received instructions from the Ministry. "The Acting IGP has received instructions from the Ministry regarding seven investigations. We don't know if instructions on those incidents would be received at a second stage or not."
It was announced by the Police last week that the Ministry had directed the Acting IGP to expedite investigations into the fatal shooting at the W15 Hotel in Weligama in 2023 (last year), the suspicious death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter in 2022, the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019, the alleged Central Bank Treasury Bond scams in 2015, the disappearance of activists Lalith Kumar and Kugan Muruganandan in 2011, the disappearance of University Vice Chancellor Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath in 2006, and the alleged kidnapping and murder of journalist D.P. Sivaram in 2005.
The killings of Wickrematunge and Thajudeen, along with the disappearance of Ekneligoda, which occurred during Mahinda Rajapaksa's Presidency from 2005 to 2015, are alleged to have been orchestrated at the behest of political elites at the time. Several parties, including their families, have accused past Governments of failing to conduct proper investigations and deliver justice.