Anura Senanayaka arrested -- Update

Anura Senanayaka arrested -- Update

Former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police is under remand at present under for the allegation of conspiring in relation to the death of Ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen and for having concealed evidence in that connection.

Yesterday when he was produced before Magistrate's Court after having been arrested, further information was unravelled in respect of this murder. Information was

presented to courts according to evidence given yesterday that around 12.17 on the night of May 17th, 2012 at Park Road where Thajudeen's murder took place he had been inside a car and that a suspicion emerges as to what he was doing at that spot according to that evidence. The suspect had been adorned in civil clothes and after being inside a car had subsequently participated at a discussion at Narahenpita Police Station. On this occasion Officers-in-Charge Sarathchandra and Sumith Champika Perera have been given instructions not to proceed with inquiries any further. Anura Senanayaka who addressed Thajudeen's father the following day had told him, "sorry ... this is a vehicle accident" and therefore that there is no necessity to enquire about this any further.

Senior Attorney-at-Law Anil Silva who appeared on behalf of Anura Senanayaka yesterday in courts said that simply because Police Officers-in-Charge were ordered to accept it as a vehicle accident; that could not be considered as having made a mistake. Also that as officers-in-charge possess the authority to confirm what is true or false, the blemish of recording it is in their hands. The said Attorney-at-Law argued that even though the evidence provided is true, no allegations can be brought forward and that the person who abets the officer-in-charge of traffic or the officer-in-charge of crimes cannot be considered as being guilty by law and that there is no legal provision to that effect. At the same time the Attorney-at-Law went on to say that Anura Senanayaka presented himself before the Criminal Investigation Department twice and made his statements and therefore it does not deem it fit for him to be remanded. The Attorney-at-Law requested courts to grant bail to the accused under such circumstances. However what Intelligence Service said was that if he was not detained  in this instance it could lead to a public commotion. As such, Colombo Additional Magistrate, Mr. Nishantha Peiris ordered Anura Senanayaka, former Deputy Inspector General to be taken into remand custody yesterday (23) until the 26th of May.

Whatever it is, the Attorney-at-Law requested for special protection because as a suspect he has LTTE threats against him. Anura Senanayaka who was conducted to remand prisons at approximately 7 in the night was detained at a special prison cell and he had then made a plea that he wishes to be admitted to hospital saying that he was sick. As such he is expected to be directed to the prison doctor and to secure a recommendation to that effect.