Another Army officer arrested

DEC 30 2015

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recently arrested another Army Officer attached to the State Intelligence Service in connection with the abduction and murder of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

CID sources said he is a member of the gang who abducted Eknaligoda in 2010.

According to sources Abeyratne was a Sergeant during the period when Eknaligoda was abducted and later promoted to the Lieutenant rank.

He was previously questioned by the CID in connection with the incident and released after having recorded several statements.

In his previous statements, he had said that on the day Eknaligoda was abducted, he came to Colombo from the Giritale Army Camp to obtain quotations for sports equipment.

He had said that he first went to Borella to meet a friend and then went to Battaramulla for the quotations. According to him he went to the Giritale Camp the same day.

But, when the CID inquired after obtaining phone details of Abeyratne they found that he had not come to Colombo during the day Eknaligoda was abducted and they arrested him again on Monday.

When questioned for the second time, he failed to give the name of the shop from which he obtained the quotation for sports equipment or the friend whom he met. He is to be produced before the Homagama Magistrate.