Ex-Navy commander to be arrested over abductions?

Aug 07, 2017

Top Navy officers have revealed to the CID that former commander Wasantha Karannagoda was directly responsible for the abduction and enforced disappearance of 11 youths from Colombo and suburbs.

Five suspects are already under arrest, including Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake, who was in charge of Navy intelligence and Sumith Ranasinghe, who was in charge of Gun Side intelligence camp at the Trincomalee Navy camp. It was Karannagoda himself who had made the first complaint about the incident. However, statements given by top Navy officers indicate he had been aware of these abductions, the CID says.

At the related court case hearing on August 02, the Colombo Fort magistrate ordered the arrest and producing of all suspects before courts. After considering the statements, the ex-commander will be arrested, a top CID official said.

A Navy extortion gang abducted Rajiv Naganathan, Pradeep Viswanathan, Mohamed Dilan, Mohamed Sajith, Thalakeshwaran Ramalingam, Thiagaraja Jegan, Soosaipillai Amalan Leon, Soosaipillai Roshan Leon, John Reit, Kasturiarachchige Anthony and Ali Anwar. A total of around 27 youths had similarly been kidnapped.

After Dassanayake’s arrest, certain media and websites tried to clear him, saying his arrest was based on one piece of evidence. However, the case report shows there is much evidence against him. The persons questioned by the CID have also been accused of human trafficking and other charges.

Shalika Wimalasena