Information revealed at Rajith's 'white van Kimbula news discussion' ... to CID for scrutiny

Information revealed at Rajith's 'white van Kimbula news discussion' ... to CID for scrutiny

The criminal investigation department has reported information before Colombo chief magistrate Miss Lanka Jayaratna yesterday (2) about a sensational statement made during a media discussion by former minister of health Mr. Rajitha Senaratna and two others. 

This inquiry has been launched by officer in charge of special inquiries unit 3 of criminal
investigation department, as reported to court by chief inspector of police Mr. Ravindra Wimalasiri regarding homicides, robberies, concealing information on purpose, providing lodging to suspects etcetera as discussed in the said media discussion. It was last November 26th that a complaint was lodged with the CID in connection with this incident by national organiser of Sinhalaye Organisation, Mr. Gangodawila Kumudu Pradeep Sanjeewa Perera of Kumarage Mawatha, Battaramulla. Since a complaint has been made by chairman of Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna Lawyers' Association to the chairman of the election commission on November 10th and to the director of criminal investigation department by attorney at law Mr. Kaludevage Janajith de Silva living in Gampaha, the CID has informed court that this inquiry was launched regarding all these complaints. 

The CID informed court that last November 10th former minister Mr. Rajitha Senaratna, Anthony Douglas Fernando and Athula Sanjeewa Madanayaka have conducted the this media discussion and that on that occasion Anthony Douglas Fernando has made the following remarks: "It is one clique that kidnaps .. another group does the killing and it is another crowd who brings the victims. Then they are told to carry them to a wewa where there are hundreds of crocodiles. These animals then carry the bodies and hide them and later eat the bodies. If an excavation is done, hundreds of bones can be found in the wewa. They don't eat with the skulls, no ... they eat only the flesh, no".

It was reported to court by the CID that Athula Sanjeewa Madanayaka has said the following during this media discussion: "I was abducted by a white van. I know the reason for it. It was at Matale station that I was abducted at three in the morning. It was about eight people who took me away. I came all alone from Jaffna upto Gas Works Junction. I bring gold. It is of course a wrong thing. I was bringing a bag with gold inside". 

The CID reported to court that it was revealed that these acts as found during the inquiry conducted in respect of the said media discussion come under 102, 113 (b), 199, 209, 296, 314, 315, 331 of Sri Lanka penal code and also according to clause 83 (1) ofthe Act of electing the president of No. 15, 1981 are wrongdoings. Under these circumstances the CID has requested courts to to issue an order for the relevant news management of the media institutions to provide edited as well as unedited footage of this media discussion to the CID. Court then issued an order to the relevant media institutions to provide a report according to clause 129 of criminal code No. 15, 1979. 

- Nimanthi Ranasingha -