Ranjan’s leaked audio clips used in DKP’s defence

IP Nishantha taking refuge in Switzerland brought to P CoI notice

By Shamidra Ferdinando-March 4, 2020, 8:54 pm

A Presidential Commission Inquiring (P CoI) into incidents of political victimisation, during the UNP-led yahapalana administration (Jan 2015 to Nov 2019), on Tuesday (3) heard two of UNP lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake’s leaked audio clips.

Rear Admiral D.K.P. Dassanayake, accused of forced wartime disappearance of 11 Tamil persons, handed over the two explosive clips–in one Gampaha District MP Ramanayake discussed the case with the then Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) SSP Sharnie Abeysekera, and in the other the UNPer talks about several other high profile cases with fugitive CID Inspector Nishantha Silva.

SSP Abeysekera, who has been interdicted by Police Headquarters, in the wake of the releasing of the UNPer’s clips, was present when the audio clips were played.

The Presidential Commission, chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, included Retired Appeal Court Judge Daya Chandrasiri Jayatilleka, and Retired IGP Chandra Fernando.

Dassanayake, the wartime Navy spokesman, having handed over MP Ramanayake’s tapes to the P CoI, explained how SSP Abeysekera, ASP B.S. Tissera and IP Nishantha Silva pursued the investigation, in a way inimical to him.

The P CoI heard SSP Abeysekera complaining to former State Minister Ramanayake about Dassanayake taking refuge at Welisara Navy hospital when he was being sought by the police. Dassanayake said that subsequently, as discussed with the then MP Ramanayake, SSP Abeysekera secured a court order to move him (Dassanayake) from Welisara to the Prisons Hospital at Welikada.

Dassanayake complained to P CoI about the senior policeman calling him a beggar during the conversation with the UNPer while laughing at the military.

During the final phase of the combined security forces offensive against the LTTE, on the Vanni east front, Dassanayake, at that time a Captain, served with the naval formation deployed off Chalai, Mullaitivu to interdict enemy movement.

SSP Abeysekera also named Dassanayake as the mastermind of the abductions. The top policeman also alleged the then President Maithripala Sirisena of interfering in the investigations. The President was accused of preventing the CID from taking wartime Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda into custody regarding the abductions.

Former State Minister Ramanayake and the police official agreed that the President intervened on behalf of the military as he used them for various ‘things.’

In an audio clip, Ramanayake makes reference to a matter involving the wife of a DIG Ravi Seneviratne, who once headed the Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID).

Dassanayake’s wife, Chandrika told P CoI IP Nishantha Silva had assured her that all her family would be safe if Dassanayake made a statement to the effect that the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa used Navy Commander Karannagoda to do wrong things.

Dassanayake’s eldest daughter, Manjari told P CoI she accompanied her mother to meet the then President Maithripala Sirisena on her father’s behalf. Manjari quoted the former President as having said that though he knew Dassanayake was innocent he couldn’t do anything about it.

The other clip contains a conversation between IP Nishantha Silva and Ramanayake, who seeks information as regards high profile investigations handled by the CID. Nishantha Silva claims that in addition to the disappearance of 11 persons, he is personally investigating several other high profile cases, including The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga’s assassination in early January 2009.

The P CoI was told IP Nishantha Silva had left the country late last November without prior sanction and was in Switzerland. ASP Tissera informed the P CoI of his inability to attend the proceedings on Tuesday.

IP Nishantha Silva assurs Ramanayake that documents sought by the State Minister could be sent to him. Ramanayake also requests a copy of a letter written by the then UPFA MP Felix Perera to Vice Admiral Karannagoda seeking information on one of those 11 missing persons.

Another leaked audio clip in the public domain has revealed SSP Abeysekera requesting State Minister Ramanayake’s assistance to remove the Military Intelligence Chief Brigadier Suresh Sallay. SSP Abeysekera requests Ramanayake’s to influence the officer’s removal as he continuously has declined to cooperate with the CID.

Dassanayake pointed out that TNA MP appeared for Ramanayake in court in respect of the leaked audio clips case. The SLN official alleged a conspiracy against him.