Former police OIC, DIG arrested over Lasantha Wickrematunge's killing further remanded

Wed, Jun 20, 2018, 12:00 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

June 19, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court today further remanded the former senior DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara and former Mount Lavinia Police Crimes OIC, SI Tissa Sugathapala who were arrested and in remand custody over the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.

When the case was called before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court today, Chief Magistrate Mohammed Mihal ordered the suspects to be remanded until the 3rd July.

The Judge a granted a request made by the Criminal Investigation Department to obtain a statement from the former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara in the prison premises.

The CID also informed the court that a statement will be obtained from the former IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne too on 22 June regarding the murder of the journalist.

Former OIC Sugathapala and the Senior DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara were arrested for allegedly concealing evidence and providing false evidence in the murder of former Sunday Leader Chief Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigations have revealed that Prasanna Nanayakkara has pressured the former OIC of the Mount Lavinia Police Tissa Sugathapala not to further investigate the murder.

The two suspects have agreed to testify as state witnesses in the case.