White van abductions: Navy officer further remanded

By Shehan Chamika Silva

Former Navy Intelligence Officer, Dhammika Anilmapa who was arrested by the CID in connection with the alleged two abductions taken place in 2009 using a white van, was ordered to be further remanded till March 23 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Jeyaram Trotsky today.

According to the prosecution, the suspect was the chief Intelligence officer at Welisara Navy Camp at the time the incident was occurred and alleged to have aided to conceal the vehicle used in abductions.

The CID informed court that they were expecting to record statements from four Navy officials attached to the Welisara Navy Camp.

They also sought Court permission to interrogate former SDIG Anura Senanayake into the incident.

Wadiwel Pakkilisami and Rathnasami Paramanandan were missing since January 2009 and they were allegedly abducted by some unknown individuals using a white vehicle.

Earlier, the prosecution said that two more suspects expected to be arrested over the incident and they are former intelligence officials of Navy, Dayananda Nanayakkara and Ananda Guruge.

According to the intelligence sources, the CID told court that the so called abductees were neither suspects into any terrorist activities nor alleged to have involved in such actions.

Earlier, investigation into so-called abductions was conducted by then Sub Inspector of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), Wijeysinghe.

According to the statements recorded from SI Wijesinghe, It was revealed in court that former SDIG Anura Senanayake and former DIG Vass Gunawardena had interrupted into the investigations carried out by the CCD at the beginning.

Later, following a complaint lodge with the CID by the wives of the abductees, Inspector of Police Nishantha Silva took over the inquiry.

The prosecution said it had initiated a broad investigation into the so-called abductions and the involvement of the high ranked police officials who had interrupted the initial inquiry.