The daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has today urged the National Police Commission to remove the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department.
Writing to the Chairman and Members of the National Police Commission, Ahimsa Wickrematunga said: “I request that the NPC urgently take steps to remove SSP Alwis from any role at the CID and to ensure that the CID arrests Alwis and produces him before court.”
Ahimsa
We publish below the letter in full:
The Chairman and Members of The National Police Commission (NPC),
BMICH Premises, Block 09,
Colombo 07,
Sri Lanka
Appeal against the appointment of criminal suspect Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) A.R.P.J. Alwis as Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police
My father, Lasantha Wickrematunge, was murdered in Attidiya on 8th January 2009. His murder is being investigated by the CID. In October 2019, the CID reported to the Mount Lavinia Magistrates Court that in 2010, the then Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID), SSP A.R. Prasanna J. Alwis, had suppressed evidence and shielded suspects in order to screen my father’s murderers from punishment. Such crimes are each punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The CID were ordered by then Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickremaratne to arrest Alwis and produce him before the magistrate. After the presidential election, the Acting IGP suddenly changed his mind. SSP Alwis was never arrested or produced. Instead, on 21st May 2020, the NPC approved the government’s request to appoint SSP Alwis as the new CID Director. Months after ordering his arrest as a murder suspect, Mr. Wickremaratne tricked the commission into putting SSP Alwis in charge of the CID.
The commission may be unaware that Mr. Wickremaratne is now illegally purporting to act as IGP since the retirement of Mr. Pujith Jayasundera on 15th March 2020. Per Article 41C of the Constitution, no one can act as IGP for more than fourteen days without the sanction of the Constitutional Council.
I request that the NPC urgently take steps to remove SSP Alwis from any role at the CID and to ensure that the CID arrests Alwis and produces him before court. I also urge the Commission to seek an explanation from Mr. Wickremaratne over his role in aiding SSP Alwis to evade arrest and become head of the CID, and on the legal basis by which he is purporting to act in the office of IGP without the approval of the Constitutional Council. The independent police commission should not be remembered for rubber stamping the appointment of a murder suspect to the head Sri Lanka’s apex detective agency.
Yours Sincerely,
Ahimsa Wickrematunge
cc. Chairman, Constitutional Council
cc. Secretary-General, Constitutional Council
cc. Secretary, National Police Commission
cc. Attorney General
leelagemalli / June 17, 2020
Dear Ahimsa,
We understand your pains, .that nobody of us could formulate in our words….. last week one another family joined hand -to the bunch- that lost fathers – Sunil Jayawardhana sfamily. .. and Ekanaligoda s family is also still waiting for justice… together with those mothers whose sons were abducted and killed.. are all set in the torments of tantalus today… their last govt failed to do the due though mountains of evidences collected made it very clear, that current men in power should be charged for all the high crimes… anyways, we know it very well, that. this is the usual modus operandi whenever Rajapakshes are in power. The months ahead of us will not be people s friendly, but we never know how the gullible would do the job this time.
May all divine forces be with you the victims.. so that these high criminals be punished with the due comeuppance.
:
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leelagemalli / June 17, 2020
Sure, If anyone close to me would have been murdered to the manner, I would have gone mad. I have a greater respect on this girl child. At the time, alleged criminals (Rajaakshes) took the life of him, this girl was very young. Such children live a life long traumatic situations.
But the leaders of that cruel nature, would go licking bo-tree showing their affinity to SRILANKEN BUDDHAGAMA ( dont mix it up with buddhism as the BUDDHA the great taught it).
What is being practised in our hell like country filled with stupid more than the rational thinkers – though the country is one of the best natural beauties thanks to the nature- today it has come down the level of – SOMALIA in making. –
Let pray for the goodies of the country -as I always I do…. may all divine forces be with goodies in the containment of the virus from spread…..
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Eagle Eye / June 18, 2020
leelagemalli,
“their last govt failed to do the due”
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‘Yahapalana’ Government did not do anything because the culprits of these murders were in that Government.
Ahimsa should read Ranil Wickramasinghe’s statement in Hansard on the murder of her father to find out who killed her father.
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leelagemalli / June 19, 2020
Eagle Eye,
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Let me open your demented head … for the sake of the CT readers.
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Good governance govt achieved alot but it was not informed to the general public since BASIL et al bribed to srilanken media mafia keeping the people in dark.
.
1) WHo implemented POLICE COMMISSION, Election Commission and RTI and the like cruicial steps ?
.
Assume if MaRa govt continueud, today in a disaster such as COVID 19, people would have gone dead to the manner Duterte gunned down their drug addicts.
-if EC did not block it, brother duo would have gone for holding election paying full blind eye to containment of the COVID virus within the country.
:
2)Media freedom – was at its best, improving the awareness of the masses. THat is not the case today… if anyone would stand against rajapakshes,… there would be more of the victims of SUNIL Jayawardhana nature.
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Why should she read RW s speculative statement which was added at the begining… ? Now with all is becoming clear, no doubt, Rajaapakshes to response for Lasantha s others extra judicial killings.
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EAGLE – how old are you ? I dont think you are TEENAGER … ????
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rj1952 / June 17, 2020
I feel sad for this young lady who is in hell at the moment endeavouring to bring her late father’s killers to book and make them walk the plank.
=
With the kallathoni war criminal of an in hiding from the world so-called puss veddila of a president who is the no 1 accused, does one ever infer that at this present juncture will anything untoward ever happen?
I DO NOT THINK SO.
She should continue pursuing to do so, I suggest a Justice for Lasantha Wickramatunga fund be established and I promise to contribute whatever I can afford to do so on a monthly basis.
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The numbers of cold-blooded killings will increase by the second the innocents who will attain nirvana for being on the wrong side.?
It will be a criminal killers paradise and it has already become one.
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Let the good gods bless and protect all those who for no fault of their’s are forced to live in this rajapuks hell hole.
God bless their souls.
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S. C. Pasqual / June 17, 2020
Ahimsa should read some more “Grimms’ Fairy Tales”
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Ferryman / June 17, 2020
You are DEAD right. If Ahimsa expects action as requested, she must be be believing in fairy tales.
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S. C. Pasqual / June 18, 2020
Some of you are funnier than “Ahimsa”.
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Ahimsa usually comes up with some “cock and bull story” when a election coming up.
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She did the same on 2015 / 2016…..
She did it again before presidential election on 2019….
She even tried to manipulate US Courts to block GR’s nomination. But got kicked out.
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It looks like a very profitable business for her.
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Ferryman / June 19, 2020
How does she profit except further expenses in time and money in the pursuit of justice for the murder of her father. Someone who has had a good father will know the agony which compels one to go the extra mile.
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leelagemalli / June 17, 2020
Ms MCP,
–
at least to this article, you could show your human face. Ms Pasqual, you should really be a cruel person by every means.
– my granny s sayings remind me whenever I see your comments. Balu waligaya (dog s tail) would never be straightened even if that would be put in a bamboo sheath.
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Ahimsa – the kind of victims without dearst father in the family to go through all the unexpected should NOT be with any families. You guys should be stone-hearted to allow the kind of cold comments.
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Oma Yang / June 18, 2020
Looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama’s ass, and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress. I think you’ve been cheated.
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leelagemalli / June 18, 2020
CT,
why you allow the kind of IDIOTs to polute CT web space ? The kind of emotional issues to be treated with this much of ignorance ?
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SJ / June 18, 2020
LM
I guess that we object to one kind of “IDIOT” while tolerating other kinds who say things to our liking.
Let the comments speak for the intellect and honesty of any writer.
Censoring of content is not good for CT unless it is defamatory, obscene or inciting hate.
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Ashan / June 19, 2020
Try to stay classy.
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kali / June 18, 2020
Sinkala Pasquali
So should you about Rajeevas death ( Gotha Lover) in the hands of the task force.
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SJ / June 18, 2020
Would one need Grimm when reality is grimmer than Grimm could ever imagine?
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srikrish / June 17, 2020
Ahimsa,
We are with you
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Ferryman / June 17, 2020
You are DEAD right. If Ahimsa expects action as requested, she must be be believing in fairy tales.
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leelagemalli / June 18, 2020
I think it is high time world funding bodies to stop the tap to srilanka.
:
Today I heard JAIKA has suspended their contributions the island nation.
:
CBK and RW could please world leaders for funds, but Rajakashes are like elephants in porcelain house. Their nature is more or less that of president Trumps. But the greater difference is AMERICANS can afford it, being a powerful nation – but we as an another HUNGRY folk- even more dependent in post-covid episode…. the situation would be dangerous without the support of the international community.
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Ashan / June 17, 2020
This poor young lady and her family needs closure. She has been bravely trying to find justice for the brutal murder of her father, and has had a hard time finding any in this country of ours. So many families asking for answers, and basically want answers, justice, and the rule of law to be implemented, so that the vicious killers can be held accountable for their crimes in a court of law. Once again the last regime has failed to bring criminals to justice. There are many murderers in the present lot strutting around the country, and expecting to be treated like royalty.
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Gamage / June 18, 2020
Dear Ahimsa,
I salute to your unwavering courage. Though there are many with you in their hearts, at this moment they are helpless. We cannot blame the common people for this, as they gave a chance to correct the wrongs in 2015. RW and MS (mainly RW) ruined the whole thing due to arrogance and pigheadedness. MS was a man with hyena qualities, only he wanted to use the opportunity for the betterment of him and his family. They had no intention to bring justice to people who have been wronged by the Rajapakse thugs. Thajudeen case is another sad story. Like Sobhitha thero recommended, had Karu J. become the common candidate, situation in our motherland would have very different by now. RW opposed to that out of jealousy. We are a cursed nation, to have a man like RW was born in this country, missing opportunities over and over again. But I firmly believe all these scoundrels and their descendants will have to face the justice of Nature one day. There won’t be an escape from that. While you are doing everything within your power humanly possible, believe in that Natural Justice, and pray hard for that to happen.
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Sugandh / June 18, 2020
Extrajudicial killings by the state has surely claimed the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans over the course of our history. The vast majority of those affected families chose not to pursue justice for various reasons; fear of reprisals is undoubtedly the major one.
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Ahimsa’s persistence, at the least, reminding us of the crime and the justice that is yet to be served, is a consolation for those who have chosen not to voice their own victimisation out of fear.
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Justice for Lasantha Wickrematunge will be a victory for all victims of the state’s crimes.
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However, justice seems like an impossible dream in this country. SriLankans really don’t mind electing murderers to run the country. Apparently, they appreciate the murderers who fulfill their bigoted agendas.
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Pamankada Shelley / June 18, 2020
Ahimsa, as an award winning local poet (writing sensitive, amorous English and Sinhala ‘poetry’) I can feel your pain more than the average Sri Lankan.
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Your request to sack the CID guy is fully understandable because they have also started a secret investigation in to friends of mine who hack media websites and plant malware on peoples’ phones. I mean, where are we heading? Don’t we have any freedom or liberty anymore?
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The regime is entirely unethical and they have also failed to keep pre-election promises to give journalist helpers jobs.
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Ahimsa, you need to take your complaint to the UNHRC because writing letters to the regime want help. Ask for continued assistance from people like (former Ambassador) JC Weliamuna and Pakyasothy Saravanamuttu.
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In the meantime, I have started to write an ‘Ode to Lasantha’ Which I will soon publish in some desperate publication.
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Good Luck.
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Ferryman / June 18, 2020
My input: “You are DEAD right. If Ahimsa expects action as requested, she must be be believing in fairy tales” : was tongue in cheek for SCPasqual. To think that Police Comm or the Con Council will act is baying at the moon. That is like believing in fairy tales as guaranteed no action will result.
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Rajan Hoole / June 18, 2020
Dear Ahimsa,
While greatly sympathising with you, it would be useful to look at the problem from another angle – the disappearance of common law against the dominance of statute law, law passed by Parliament and discretionary laws made by Ministers. It is common law, the accretion of rights through the ages, on which our appeals and hope should rest. Two events spelt its demise: the PSO of mid-1947 at the instigation of the fathers of the nation in the last days of colonial rule, and the Citizenship Act just after independence.
The two together delivered a severe blow to our respect for legality. Life became cheap as the agonised cries of many families of victims show.
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SJ / June 18, 2020
Which “fathers of the nation”?
Rajan Hoole, you are giving too much credit to a bunch of scoundrels.
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kali / June 18, 2020
Hi Ahimsa,
Arrests CID Chief: Ahimsa Urges Police Commission
*** Frankly you are wasting time in Gotha Land. CID are busy Grilling People ( only petty thieves) and having a Barbecue every day where as all the big guns have got away. It has been a long wait for you to see justice for your dad but hopefully another 4 years if COVID has its say. I have read the report of World Bank and that just about sums up where the Economy is heading despite the GOSL machinery in overdrive putting out false stories to win the elections.
As for the letter to the Police Commission send a copy to the following bodies and countries that matter.
1) US Justice department as in my book Gotha is still an American Citizen,
2) The UN
3) India as that is the only Country that can put a lid on Gotha. Super Power Status comes with responsibilities .
4) All the Western Counties.
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chiv / June 18, 2020
Ahimsa, salute to you. On a positive note there are victims who fought valiantly got their justice served elsewhere. Also these written statements may serve as evidence in a court of law, that the higher ups are conniving in shielding the accused. There is an alarming development, which is worth mentioning. For some reason the government seems to be after Kumar Sangakkara. SB made a false and distorting statement about a plot in Nuwaraeliya which Sanga clarified the very next day. Today I believe the biggest rogue and a crook Mahindananda has accused “the 2011 world cup was fixed to loose “, without naming anyone. I remember Sanga recently appealing to voters to pick the right people and discard proven criminals. Also Sanga and Mahela had challenged this moron when he was the minister of sports which I am sure had hurt his ego.
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Mallaiyuran / June 18, 2020
Ahimsa,
Thanks for you fights and endeavor. I thank you because truth, justice and democracy cannot stand up themselves. It is the duty of the workers for Humanity to keep them standing, not falling. Just think about the death of your father. It was done by the leader of the country, as suspected by every citizen in the country. Disappointingly 7 Million voted for him and has made him as the president of the country. But all 15 million voters in the country do know that Lasantha was killed by King and his acolytes, all of them from defense. Further there is no doubt in that the cover-up was made by SSP Alwis like the 2nd group. There is one more group, they are controlling the courts & falsifying the justice. You may remember the last month’s case in Supreme Court. The SC Justices even refused to hear the case, though it was about the democratic rights of even those justices who refused to hear it. They are no different & established that they are not anything above the level of the 7 Million voted for King. Justice was a rare commodity in Lankawe, even before Covid-19. Now it seems to be and extinct life form. Still I wish you to continue to the end because there are many these days interested in Justice; they want you to set an example of relentless fight for that.
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a14455 / June 19, 2020
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / June 24, 2020
Dear Ahimsa
We are with you seeking justice for your Father first and foremost as fellow citizens/our civic duty. Furthermore we have all lost our loved ones in Jaffna too gunned down by the killers not only killed their opponents but the entire Jaffna populations wish to rid of the past and be futuristic/progressive and exercise their rights in a democracy too just as your wonderful Father has done all his life. We fully understand the pain.
The same killers sit in our parliment even from the North as representing people is a shocking notion for us all in a democracy.
Lots of Love and Respect
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