1st August 2018

During the magisterial inquiry relating to the alleged abduction of 11 youths in 2008, Director of the CID Shani Abeysekara today revealed that, several years ago, some of the defence lawyers, who currently represent the suspects, have requested him to favour several Navy individuals, who were at that time not named as suspects into the inquiry. At the onset of the inquiry, President’s Counsel Shavendra Fernando and Counsel Asith Siriwardena raised a question over the inclusion of some details relating to them made by the prosecution on February 8, 2018 in the B report. In February, the prosecution in a further report had included about some alleged involvement of the two defence counsel in the investigations. These details only appeared in the B report as […]

The Presidential Task Force appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to monitor the development projects conducted in Northern and  Eastern provinces where the development activities retarded due to the war held its first meeting, chaired by the President at the President’s office today(30). President Sirisena insisted that that people should be provided immediate benefits making that development programme more efficient and systematic. President also mentioned that even though the government has done a considerable amount of work to uplift and the lives of the people and develop infrastructure in the Northern and Eastern provinces the people are not sufficiently aware of it. The President also said that government has obtained positive results in the programme conducted to build national reconciliation and co- existence among the people […]

The Colombo High Court yesterday (30) granted bail, under strict conditions, to two Navy Intelligence officers, who were in remand on charges of abducting and causing the disappearance of 11 children from Colombo and its suburbs 10 years ago. The bail order was given by High Court Judge Champa Rajaratne, having considered a petition filed by K. Gamini and Thushara Mendis. The High Court Judge ordered each suspect to be released on cash bail in Rs 100,000 each and two sureties of Rs 500,000 each. She also ordered that the wives of the two suspects and a Government servant should be produced as guarantors. Judge Rajaratne also impounded the passports of the two suspects and ordered that their passports be handed over to the Court. […]