Speaker informed former President Rajapaksa of Noyahr’s abduction

Shavini Madara-Thursday, May 31, 2018

Former Military Intelligence Director and Army Chief of the Staff retired Major General Amal Karunasekara arrested in connection with the abduction and assault of Nation newspaper deputy editor Keith Noyahr in 2008, was further remanded till June 13 by the Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama.

Senior State Counsel appearing on behalf of the CID informed the Magistrate that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had made a statement regarding this incident.

According to the Speaker’s statement it was revealed that former Nation newspaper colleagues of his had informed Karu Jayasuriya regarding Keith Noyahr’s abduction.

Jayasuriya had been the Public Administration Minister at the time of the incident and he had been the first person to inform then President Mahinda Rajapaksa about Keith Noyahr’s abduction.

It is reported that Karu Jayasuriya has discussed this incident with the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and emphasized that he would feel ashamed to be in the government if the government had involved in this incident.

According to the Karu Jayasuriya he informed then President Mahinda Rajapaksha if any harm comes to Keith Noyahr he will resign from his post.

SSC also stated that Criminal Investigation Department again recorded a statement from Amal Karunasekara. According to his statement Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka had no any connection with this matter.

CID investigated Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s phone call records and SSC stated that there is no evidence related to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka had any involvement.

Senior State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama stated that CID recorded a statement from Lance Corporal who worked at the Batuwatte safe house.

According to the lans corpral’s statement a person had been brought to the safe house that night and assaulted. According to CID investigations, Noyahr was abducted from his home in Dehiwela and was taken to a Military Intelligence safe-house in Dompe in a white van by a platoon led by Major Bulathwatte.

SSC also stated that Keith Noyahr later travelled overseas, for security reasons.Senior State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama also informed the magistrate that statements were recorded from first and fifth suspects regarding the matter.

Senior President’s Counsel Nalinda Indatissa and other lawyers appearing for Karunasekara pleaded his client be granted bail. However the SSC objected to bail for the suspect and pleaded to remand the suspect.

The Magistrate thoroughly advised lawyers appearing for the suspects not to involve any other outside lawyers into this case.The magistrate fixed the inquiry for June 13.