Investigators of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) have said that continuous promotions and benefits granted to suspects of the notorious Navy abduction for ransom case can obstruct ongoing investigations and hamper court proceedings.
The CID expressed these concerns when the case was taken up once again on Wednesday (21) before the Fort Colombo Magistrates Court. In the B-report submitted to courts by OIC of the Gang Robberies Unit IP Nishantha Silva, the CID noted that suspects of the case and the case relating to the abduction of two other victims being heard in the Aluthkade Magistrate Courts have been promoted by the Sri Lanka Navy after they were arrested and remanded in connection to the cases.
“I also learnt from electronic and print media that Former Navy Commander Wasantha Kumara Jayadeva Karannagoda who was arrested under section 296 of the Penal Code on the direction of the Attorney General’s Department has also been promoted to a higher rank recently,” the B report submitted by the CID said.
However, while suspects were receiving promotions from the Navy, the CID also noted that key witnesses in the case such as Lieutenant Commander Krishan Welagedara, Leading Seaman Aluthgedara Upul Kumara and Naval Rating Kotelawalage Bandu Kumara have faced death threats and other forms of harassment.
“Putting witnesses in such a position and granting promotions to suspects could affect the complainants and obstruct ongoing investigations as well as hamper court proceedings,” the CID told courts. The OIC was responding to a submission made by Counsel Achala Senevirathna representing the families of the victims at an earlier court date.
In her submission, Senevirathna brought to the notice of courts that promotions are being granted to suspects of the case by the Sri Lanka Navy placing them safely within the Naval force while the parents of the abducted youth continue to languish in despair.
Two main suspects of the case Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake and Commander Sumith Ranasinghe, suspects in the abduction racket case, currently out on bail, were granted promotions to their current ranks in 2015. Dassanayake also received a second service extension last month.
Meanwhile, the request of key witness Lieutenant Commander Krishan Welagedara to retire from the Sri Lanka Navy on completion of 20 years in service is reportedly being continuously delayed by relevant officials.