Will Col. Shammi decide Gota’s fate?

- Feb 20, 2016

Investigations by the CID into the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligdoa are now over, and there is belief that the main accused in the case could be former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, say CID sources.

By now, all those connected to the disappearance are under arrest, but Sri Lanka Army Col. Shammi Kumararatne has not yet revealed as to who had given the relevant order.

 

However, Army sources say Col. Kumararatne had acted under direct orders by the ex-defence secretary.

 

The Army intelligence group under him was a special unit not operating under the orders of the then Army intelligence chief Brig. Anura Wanniarchchi. It is now revealed that this group was responsible for many controversial incidents that had taken place at the time.

 

Although Col. Kumararatne is not revealing as to who had given him the order, court action is to be filed against all those under arrest on charges of conspiring, abducting, illegally detaining and causing a disappearance. If found guilty, each will be sentenced to a minimum prison term of 20 years.

 

Military personnel connected to this crime and other crimes are forced to serve term due to the wants of a certain individual or individuals in the political authority at the time.

 

What their relatives, friends and those loyal to war heroes, who are now trying to get them freed, should do is to make them understand that they should reveal those who had forced them into committing these crimes. Only through such action that a country’s law and order could be strengthened. Protecting the criminals will only result in unending inconvenience for their relatives and friends.