President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered that information of the three armed forces be not given in connection with ongoing court cases into murders and disappearances, ‘Anidda’ reports.
He issued the order at a meeting on August 28 at his Paget Road residence attended by the defence secretary, chief of defence staff and top defence and police officials, it says.
The CID says it needs certain information of the armed forces to take forward its investigations into the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda and the abduction of Keith Noyarh, Upali Tennakoon and 11 youths etc.
Taking up the related cases, courts have ordered the commanders of the three armed forces to provide the details required.
But, that has not been done yet.
The president summoned the meeting after the police wrote to the defence secretary about the matter.
Damaging to national security
There, defence secretary Kapila Waidyaratne said that providing information under 34 categories as requested could endanger national security.
The president then turned to the IGP and expressed displeasure over members of the armed forces being held as suspects, saying that there was no any evidence against them.
Police chief Pujith Jayasundara said the information has been sought pursuant to court orders, adding that statements have been recorded from all suspects.
He insisted that they were under arrest because there was adequate evidence against them.
However, the president ordered the commanders of the armed forces not to give any information of the military.
Courtesy: Sri Lanka Mirror
