"Shani asked me to come near Borella cemetery and said to involve Gotabhaya's and Nala's name with Thajudeen-murder!"

"Shani asked me to come near Borella cemetery and said to involve Gotabhaya's and Nala's name with Thajudeen-murder!"

Inspector of police Sumith Perera, chief of criminal division, Narahenpita police was someone who was present there when the incident regarding the death of ruggerite Mohommed Thajudeen took place in Park Road, Narahenpita and  accused as a result. He was even imprisoned. 

Mr. Sumith Perera who held a media briefing yesterday after the new government came into power mentioned that Shani Abeysekera, head of criminal investigation department and other officers had
given instructions to him to involve Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa in order to throw relevant investigations under the carpet those days. 

This media confrontation was arranged by a Rajapaksa-supporting organisation by the name of "Sathya gaveshakayo" and Mr. Sumith Perera who was released after having been under remand custody for close upon a period of one year for having concealed the Thajudeen murder incident. 

"I served as officer in charge of crime division of Narahenpita police from the year 2012. It was during that time this incident happened. When that incident happened I was at home. At that time I was residing in a rented house in Boralesgomuwa. The police station informed me that an incident like this has happened. I then proceeded to the spot concerned and started investigations. I carried out all investigations relevant to it within the framework of the law. 

After that I checked where the deceased had been to last. It was in Anderson flats that he and two other friends had been enjoying a bout of alcohol. The three of them had gulped down two bottles of Old Arrak in that house till about 11.45 that night. I secured those bottles as production in the case. They had enjoyed fried manioc as their bite. All this is there in my notes. Apart from that I checked back seven days backwards about this person who had died in that incident. It was in that house that they had enjoyed arrak. I managed to find seven or eight bottles of arrak there. These things were not published in the media so far. 

After finishing these inquiries I got a transfer and went as officer in charge of Nelladi, Jaffna police in 2015. During those days a sergeant phoned me and told me that a statement should be taken regarding this incident. As such, the first statement was taken. Even to give those statements I had to come all the way from Jaffna. After making the statements I was to go back to Jaffna. 

I can remember Mr. Shani asking me to come near Borella cemetery. He told me to come behind his vehicle in my vehicle. I had a car at that time. I went behind his vehicle. I went like that and stopped near foundation institute. There he asked me to get into his car. This happened four or five days before being taken into custody. There he told me, 'Don't be a fool yakko ... I'll make you an A.S.P. Will get you resident status in Canada. You apply by giving these two names'. 

I point blank refused his request. The following day I was summoned to the CID. They make us go astray. On the last two days ASP Mr. Weerasekera, ASP Mr. Tissera and Mr. Shani Abeysekera accompanied me to Mr. Nagahamulla the then director of CID. Nagahamulla means one of my officers in charge. When in the president's security division he dashed chairs and his feet on the ground and said, "You must tell this .. if not there's no point!" I rejected that too. 

I have not done any politics. It was after passing the exam that I joined as a inspector of police in 1997. When I was arrested ... even then I was in that position. By now one of my sisters also passed away. These officers told me, now you have problems, no. You write a letter to the inspector of police .. we'll get  you down to Colombo and then make you ASP. I then said, 'O.k. sir .. give me a transfer. Iwas given a letter. After that I was taken to Kotahena police. Even that day I did not say anything. Only two days passed ... I was taken into custody saying, 'You don't do what we say'. I was imprisoned for close upon one year at Welikada remand prison. 

At that time it was announced over the media that president's secretariat had taken 45 calls to me. What I ask is, if I got 45 calls like that; where are court procedures in that connection? They even told lies to court. I am supposed to have spoken to Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Nothing even today. I ave two children. My children even could not go to school. 

At the time I was in prison CID officers created trouble for my home-people. Actor Ranjan Ramanayaka spoke to my relatives and harassed them a lot .. telling them, 'say like this .. like that'. If records of telephone analysis is taken .. I can show all this. Till this 17th I was in fear. If I did what Shani Abeysekera, Nagahamulla and Tissera told ... I also would have to leave the country like Nishantha. But I did not say so that day. Neither did I go abroad. My heart knows what I did here. I have not betrayed anyone or done anything for that matter. If so ... I could have mentioned those names and after getting privileges from them, go to Switzerland and live happily. 

In the days ahead I will be filing legal action in this connection. After being exonerated from the case I made an appeal to inspector general of police requesting him to reinstate me. I came out on February 20th, 2017 and I sent this appeal on February 25th, 2017. It was sent to national police commission. The police commission has requested for information about me as a report. But upto now the IGP has not submitted the relevant report. I approached IGP Mr. Pujith Jayasundera to ask about this. What he said was, 'Sumith you didn't work the way we wanted, no. So I can't reinstate you'. I then wrote to every possible place about the injustice done to me".