With undue pressure from President Maithripala Sirisena, an Army Intelligence Officer who was identified as the culprit behind the assault of former editor of Rivira Newspaper, Upali Tennakoon and his wife was released on bail today.
Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara
Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara ordered Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and three sureties of Rs. 500,000.
The decision comes just days after President Sirisena launched a verbal attack against the arresting and remanding of Army Intelligence Officers who have been involved in various criminal activities including being linked to murder.
In August, Upali Tennakoon has identified Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagame as his attacker.
Just days after the assassination of Founder Editor of Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, Tennakoon and his wife came under attack in Gampaha in January 2009. The culprits came on motorbikes and followed a similar attack style which was carried out to attack Wickrematunge, although the attack on Tennakoon was not meant to be fatal.
Despite Nanayakkara releasing Udalagama on bail, Mount Lavinia Magistrate yesterday further remanded Udalagama till October 28 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Wickrematunge.
A couple of months ago in a Facebook post, Nanayakkara called on the Attorney General to ‘think before he leaps’ and also asked the AG’s officers to think before they spoke in connection to a case against Thilina Gamage who was released on bail for illegally possessing an elephant. “The AG must realise when to tie his dogs and keep then on a leash. Each judge of minor judiciary has one time or the other encountered with Gamage and thereby run a risk of having an allegation thrown against him by AG and ignorant media (undoubtedly backed by that officer of AG. If I may ask, why take such a risk)” she said in her post.
Sunil / October 14, 2016
President Maithripala Sirisena hope these are not indications that you are turning into a Mahinda Rajapaksa version 2.0!? We don’t want criminal to be protected and walk free after committing crimes against the people of our nation!
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ballah / October 14, 2016
army should not be war criminals for killing terrorists and killing people who indeirectly or directly supporting terrorism
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Dulip / October 15, 2016
ballad, We are unable to crlebrate our true war heroes because the war criminals and LTTE friends of the Rajapaksas are being protected by a criminal network…
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Richard / October 15, 2016
bailah, then what about Mahinda who paid millions of rupees to the LTTE to win the presidential election? Is he then not a criminal? has he also not supported the LTTE with funds? THEN ACCORDING TO YOU THE ARMY SHOULD HAVE KILLED HIM?
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Amarasiri / October 14, 2016
Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara
“Each judge of minor judiciary has one time or the other encountered with Gamage and thereby run a risk of having an allegation thrown against him by AG and ignorant media (undoubtedly backed by that officer of AG. If I may ask, why take such a risk)” she said in her post.”
So, the Rajapaksa’s stolen billions are bribing the Judges and even the President Gon Gamarala.
Through the Grape Wine.Idiots of the week Sri Lankan Buddhists..Friday, 25 April 2014 and This week’s Idiots.
This week its not one idiot, but rather a very large group. Actually, this is usually the case as most idiots follow other idiots. In fact I may just have to start calling it idiots of the week all the time, as surely some fool will do whatever they get told by these weekly nominees.
Turn out that this week Sri Lankan Buddhists have gone and deported a British tourist for a vile crime against their local beliefs. So, for this week I give you a few choices to make you see how rational these people they are. So why did Buddhists export a British tourist?
a) for killing Buddhist monk?
b) peeing on a Buddhist statue?
c) having a Buddha tattoo?
If you chose (c) you are right.
As you know they are highly logical people these Buddhists. Nope they are just as stupid as any other theists that take offense to the dumbest stuff. Muslims don’t like pictures of Muhammad and these Buddhists don’t like pictures of Buddha.
To put a little more perspective. This country is 112 richest country in the world according to the IMF, yet they deem it necessary to send tourists with money away as they feel a little hurt. This is a country with a nominal GDP per capita of 3,139 USD. But hey, lets get upset about a Buddha tattoo when we have no running water.
Logical right? No, Sri Lankan Buddhists you are idiots.
A 2500 Year-Old Culture That Was!
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-2500-year-old-culture-that-was/
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Hansaya / October 14, 2016
But you want a killer who enjoyed torturing thousands of youths sipping a glass of beer to be at the helm of the gov.
Better to be MR version than Premadasa V2 or RW version 2.
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thondamannay / October 14, 2016
THIS IS DIVERSION……………………………
ETCA WILL BE BORN………… CENTRAL BANK WILL SHOOT THE MESSENGER.
CRIMES OIN THE LEAKED DOCUMENTS WILL NEVER SEE THE DAYLIGHT NOR INVESTIGATED.
Minister & his friend will go scot free.
Perpetual makes 10b profit in 14 months. Another warren Buffet? My foot
GMOA & THE PEOPLE WILL BE FAST ASLEEP
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Realnaked / October 14, 2016
No doubt that it was not necessary Prez to have made such remarks.
All with brains would see it, yet today, these men that made high harms to nation are still scot free – they even make their loud mouths without fears. That alone sends the message across the current rulers have nothing but just waging their tails further not being able to have backbones to go vehemently against high criminals but criminals. They be former president, his sons, siblings or any other men, MUST BE punished going through lanken law and order of the day.
I dont see any rigorous actions being taken against any men that have grabbed billions from the tax payers funds not even letting the poor people with healthy drinking water to drink:
This is a great curse looking back, they the meeharakas, let their sons and family men to abuse the state assets as no other leaders did, but yet today, they CONTINUE adding their high talks to the press.
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN MARCHING ? OR BETTER SAID; WHAT HAVE THE DUO IN POWER BEEN DOING UPTO NOW NOT YET EVEN MAKING PLANS TO ROUND UP THOSE MULTI BILLION CROOKS.
Basil should long have been in a lanken jail or not ?
Namal sould long have been in a lanken jail or not ?
Weerawanse should long have been in a lanken jail or not ?
That former JMO who had the responsiblity with Wasim s post mortem investigations should long have been arrested for his all the evil even far evil ignorance letting Rajaapakshe men to harm the young man and then to abuse his dead body parts that way – should the men be set free yet today ?
Not even Ruwandians who are said to be far poor nation of the earth, have not negelected the investigations this way. It is being said, FCID and CID and other all new bodies would have taken care of the investigations … but this has now become to lip services …… we are FED UP by now.
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Vaachalaya / October 14, 2016
The people who voted the current regime into power are getting increasingly disgusted with the obvious reluctance to bring the robber barons to book.
It is high time that we gullible s keep a close watch on President Maithripala Sirisena. He came to power mouthing pious promises to rid the country of corruption. But after tasting power, just like his predecessor, he is getting drunk on it.
CIVIL SOCIETY PLEASE WAKE UP!!!!! YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE.
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Douglas / October 14, 2016
Let us not mix the cases. This decision is in relation to an assault while the other is a “Murder”. No doubt, the accused in both the cases is the same person. Let the Judiciary handle the two cases separately; but do not rush to connect this decision with that “irresponsible” utterance of the President.
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srinath.gunaratne / October 14, 2016
Army intelligence is not crazy to attack journalist for no reason!
I believe these intimidation takes place when journalists do pakkali service to NGOs and other elements who are hell bent on federalizing/destabilizing the country!
History has shown us journalists are not saints and some even went and got santhosam for Mahinda!
Country comes first, Enjoy your freedom, But do not think of destabilize hard earned terror free country!
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common sense / October 15, 2016
srinath.gunaratne, They are absolutely crazy if they think they can kill someone just because they have an opinion of things that is different from theirs!!!
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vigilante man / October 14, 2016
MS, stop interfering with the judiciary and the law enforcement authorities. We have had enough of this brutal and egoistic behaviuor from your predecessor and we don not want you to follow in his footsteps. We will kick you out at the next election if you decide to follow this authoritarian and despotic course.
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Samuel Jayaweera / October 14, 2016
Srilanka s current law and order systems are still not at all improved by the basic level…
Please let me add you think – just after following news found in today s DN —
Lately I also had the chance to read, that the govt or the respective bodies have been making efforts to order Interpole seeking the arrest of Udayanga Wejentunga…
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The former ambassador lashed out against the government for confiscating his container and alleged that it had been auctioned off on 30 September for Rs 165 million.
“The Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not release my container as she stated that my diplomatic passport hadn’t been canceled but on 8 September, Minister S.B. Nawinna informed Parliament that I had canceled my diplomatic passport in 2015”, the statement added . “They are angry, that is why they chose to auction my container with personal belongings. I made a friendly request to the President to release at least the items which have no significance in the court proceedings or have any commercial value but have received no reply,”he further stated.. He also complained that all his bank accounts had been temporarily frozen since April 2015 up to now, by the Director of the Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit. But I have not been named as a suspect in any case and that the FCID had informed courts that I was not a suspect in that particular case. He thus accused the Central Bank and Commercial bank of playing into the political witch hunt of the government.
Weeratunga also said that he did not wish to become a victim in the political witch hunt of the government and if the government was interested in questioning him, they could come to Ukraine and he would be happy to meet them in Kiev.
The former ambassador is alleged to have committed financial misappropriation to the tune of US$ 14 million while purchasing four Ukraine-built MIG-27 aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2005.
In July, the FCID requested Magistrate Jayaratne to issue a warrant through the Interpol to arrest Weeratunga but the Magistrate denied the request on the grounds that the warrant issued on Weeratunga did not follow proper procedure.
The FCID had previously issued a warrant on the former Ambassador to Russia via email.
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Kugan / October 14, 2016
These officers carried out the masters orders.
Better get the big shark.
Thanugadeen murder etc
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jay gunasekara / October 14, 2016
Kaveendra Nanayakkara is being fast tracked to the Supreme Court.You will be in the X’Mas and Awurudu hamper list women.
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Nimal Maharage / October 14, 2016
Sira and Gota formed a new alliance to ensure that Rajapaksa family’s return to regime. Sira’s pressure and advice to release these remanded army officers is entirely on the advice of Gota who is hatching a plan to contest the next presidential election. The group picture of both at the wedding of Sira brother’s daughter recently is a clear indication of how things will turn around in the near future.
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Spark / October 14, 2016
Their are innocent Tamils spending time in prison under the draconian PTA. These Tamils have never received a trial and just in prison on suspicion for more than 7 years for no reason other than that they are Tamils and were at the wrong place at the wrong time. The majority Sinhalese establishment does not give a dime about providing justice to them nor establishing if they have been involved in terrorism and punishing them, but simply engrossed in making life miserable to Tamils (JR once said “Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy” …. which is gospel truth for a race historically ingrained in racism). Now we see how a Sinhalese Army Intelligence Officer is bailed out overnight with Presidential intervention even though the CID and courts are finding surmountable evidence on dastardly crimes that he has committed. This is ample proof that justice, law and order is manipulated and is very far from being independent transparent authorities.
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Arun Vincent / October 14, 2016
If every politician goes to jail, who is going to run this country?
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Sampath / October 15, 2016
Is Maithripala Sirisana intentionally setting up a Sri Lankan spring uprising to exterminate the Rajapaksas criminals!?
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Aia / October 15, 2016
It is awful to note that justice being traded and the President of the country is in complicit, what an appalling situation that people have voted him in to bring back law and order, he came to the power and has decided to toe the line of former dictator of late.
As other clever SL politicians, he realized that he has to make the most when he is capable of. Being a business man, his brother might have facilitated a handsome deal, that got him waked up and make him do the things that he does right now. Good governance, let Ranil cares about it, he is a loser anyway.
For the voters, that the majorities’ majority, you don’t distinguished good from bad, hence what you get is what you deserves. Only when the noose comes your neck will you see the dare plight you are in.
If AG and HE interfere on the decisions of a judge as outlined here, I can see the frustration felt by the judge, it is not just her frustration but of all peace loving citizens of this country. Good to see a judge is being out spoken about and using the FB to vent out her displeasure, well done Mrs Nanayakkara.
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Wilson Thilakaratna / October 15, 2016
In August, Upali Tennakoon has identified Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagame as his attacker.corrections: In August, Upali Tennakoon had identified Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagame as his attacker.I can explain if you need.
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Wera / October 15, 2016
This article is misleading. Udalagama is the main suspect in the much more important murder case of Lasantha. He cannot be bailed out unless bail is granted in that case which it has not. Therefore this bail on the assault can only be judged as a minor procedural matter. He will remain in jail. The main issue w.r.t. Sirisena is his view on the many criminal acts of Gota including murder. What does he think he is doing. Also, the officials DO NOT deserve to be treated like they have. The president owes them an apology! These people labor under intense hardship. They are also taking an incredible risk in dealing with the monsters of the Rajapakshe family. Given and ample evidence that the biggest shit head is given deference by this government the officials could loose their lives if he comes back to power. Yet we have this spectacle where Rajapakshe gets to launder his money and use it to undermine the current government while they sit on their backsides doing nothing about it. One begs the question, has Sirisena being bribed by Rajapakshe to betray his allies? After all this is Lankawa the land of the depitakattuwas (back Stabbers).
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kaputa / October 16, 2016
Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara ordered Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and three sureties of Rs. 500,000.Madam! Would you release a suspect if it had happened to some one in your family? be brave and act with a clear “conscious decision” when sitting on a bench representing the whole nation.
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