Sri Lanka: Ex-IGP accused of destroying evidence in a high profile murder case

( October 29, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The CID has decided to obtain a statement from a former IGP in connection with the killing of ‘The Sunday Leader’ editor Lasantha Wickramatunga, say police headquarters sources.

The ex-police chief stands accused of destroying evidence in this case, including a notebook found from the murder scene and removal of reference to same from the Mt. Lavinia police crime OIC’s remarks.

Also, he has allegedly influenced the release of a military intelligence man arrested over the supplying of mobile phones to the members of the military accused in the murder.

The intelligence man made a confession before the Mt. Lavinia magistrate and was freed later.

A man, identified as Jesudasan, who had provided national identity cards to obtain these mobile phones, died in prison.

Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said at a recent media briefing that details of who had ordered Wickramatunga’s elimination and how it had been carried out were now known.

There is truth to allegations by former minister Mervyn Silva that ex-defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is linked to the killing, said Senaratne.

The editor/journalist was gunned down on 08 January 2009.