Upali to return to identify Lasantha killers
Aug 15, 2016
Former ‘Rivira’ editor Upali Tenmnakoon is due to return home soon to give a statement to the CID and to identify those who had assaulted him. He has been summoned as a statement is necessary for the continuation of the investigation.
Police say former Staff Sergeant Prem Dayananda Udalagama of the Army intelligence, arrested over the murdere of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga, is also connected to the assault on Tennakoon.
Tennakoon was assaulted at Imbulgoda in Gampaha on 23 January 2008, a few days before Wickramatunga was gunned down in front of Malagala School at Attidiya. The IGP had handed over the murder investigation to the CID on 12 December 2009, but the probe was covered up.
Due to the threats to his life, Tennakoon and his wife fled to the US. Following the change of government, a statement could not be obtained from him as he was not in the country. Therefore, the CID has taken steps to summon him home.
It has now come to light that those who had assaulted Tennakoon and the killers of Wickramatunga had used the same five phone numbers. Meanwhile, Tennakoon’s wife has told the CID that she would be able to identify the assailants if she sees them again. Accordingly, Tennakoon and his wife will attend an identification parade on the coming 22, Sathhanda reports
Tennakoon was assaulted at Imbulgoda in Gampaha on 23 January 2008, a few days before Wickramatunga was gunned down in front of Malagala School at Attidiya. The IGP had handed over the murder investigation to the CID on 12 December 2009, but the probe was covered up.
Due to the threats to his life, Tennakoon and his wife fled to the US. Following the change of government, a statement could not be obtained from him as he was not in the country. Therefore, the CID has taken steps to summon him home.
It has now come to light that those who had assaulted Tennakoon and the killers of Wickramatunga had used the same five phone numbers. Meanwhile, Tennakoon’s wife has told the CID that she would be able to identify the assailants if she sees them again. Accordingly, Tennakoon and his wife will attend an identification parade on the coming 22, Sathhanda reports
