Army Commander In A Soup?

• Prageeth Eknaligoda Dissappearence Case

By Nirmala Kannangara- Sunday, January 24, 2016

Prageeth Eknaligoda and Sandya Eknaligoda

Army Commander Major General Chrishantha de Silva (A. W. J. C. De Silva) who was appointed as the 21st Commander of the Sri Lanka Army effective from February 22, 2015, is likely to face legal action for his alleged failure to cooperate with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the investigations into the disappearance of senior journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

The CID, it is learnt, has sought the Attorney General’s (AG) opinion to take action against De Silva and is waiting for AG’s recommendations for further action. When the CID on an earlier occasion in August last year wanted to arrest two Lieutenant Colonels in connection to the disappearance of Eknaligoda, De Silva and the then Defence Secretary had reportedly opposed the CID’s move strongly, claiming that the accused were involved in winning the country’s three decade war. Recently, it was revealed as to how Army Commander Chrishantha de Silva together with the Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, S. Salley, along with Lt. Colonel Mahathanthila had attempted to get Senior State Counsel Dileepa Peiris appearing in the Eknaligoda case removed, allegedly to help the Eknaligoda murder suspects obtain bail.

“This Senior State Counsel, who has left no stone unturned to unearth the truth, vehemently opposed any move to release the suspected army officials on bail. It is alleged that the Army Commander has used his good office to influence to get the Senior State Counsel replaced with another State Counsel whom they believe would help them obtain bail for the suspects. In addition to the Army Commander’s attempt, Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front and Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero’s Bodu Bala Sena movement (which is known for their extreme anti-Muslim views) have strongly opposed the arrest of the former military intelligence sleuths over Eknaligoda’s disappearance,” reliable CID sources said on conditions of anonymity. It was also reported that when Eknaligoda case was taken up at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court in mid-December last year, former Media Spokesman and UPFA Parliamentarian Keheliya Rambukwella who was present at the hearing had later told that UPFA dissident (i.e. Joint Opposition) MPs had decided to donate their MP salaries to the families of the arrested military intelligence unit members. Although the Army Commander made attempts to get the Senior State Counsel appearing for the case removed, acting Attorney General Dr. Suhada Gamlath had reportedly turned down the request claiming such actions will not be resorted to at the Attorney General’s Department. Meanwhile Sandya Eknaligoda alleged that the suspected military intelligence unit members had been receiving ‘right royal’ treatment in prison. “When the Homagama Magistrate asked from where these suspects were brought, the prison official who accompanied the accused said that they were brought from the prison hospital. The Magistrate said that although the Court cannot ask these accused not to be placed at the prison hospital if they are really sick.                                          Read More »