8 October, 2024

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President Gota’s First Blow To Rule Of Law: Top CID Cop On The Chopping Block

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa‘s decision to unceremoniously sack SSP Shani Abeysekera as CID director has sparked grave concern particularly since the Department was leading several murder and abduction investigations carried out by death squads allegedly operated by the former defence secretary.

SSP Shani Abeysekera

The decision to remove Abeysekera from the CID was lightning quick with President Gotabaya only four days in office.

The National Police Commission said the transfer was executed within hours on the request of Acting IGP Chandana Wickremaratne. In a particularly despicable attempt to humiliate the former CID director, he was transferred as Personal Assistant to the DIG of Galle. Police sources said PA positions to DIGs were usually restricted to police officials at CI rank.

Ironically the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made this deliberate attempt to interfere with law enforcement despite claiming that his Government would not engage in political vengeance.

The move was roundly criticized on social media, with the Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association issuing a statement denouncing the actions of the National Police Commission which the Association claimed was showing a grave loss of independence.

“SSP Shani Abeysekera is one of the country’s best investigators. He has always worked independently, irrespective of the Government. He is a fearless professional. His transfer is a massive victory for murderers and criminals,” said UNP MP Ajith Perera, the sole voice in the UNP raising the issue of Abeysekera’s sudden transfer.

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said the transfer smacked of being politically motivated and questioned why the main opposition UNP was silent in the face of such a big blow to law enforcement and rule of law.

SSP Shani Abeysekera has served decades in the Sri Lankan Police and is well known for being an upstanding officer with an impeccable record of integrity. His successful case record stands testimony to the fact that he is one of the country’s top investigators.

Abeysekera was the chief investigating officer in the 2005 Royal Park Murder and helped to convict Shramantha Jayamaha for the murder of 19 year old Yvonne Johnsson. Offered pots of money to suppress evidence in that case, Abeysekera resisted the moves and complained to court that a popular cricketer had been instrumental in trying to bribe him. At the time Abeysekera was a chief inspector.

He also led successful investigations into the gruesome Angualana double murder by four policemen. He also busted a mercenary assassination racket run by former DIG Vas Gunewardane and helped to secure a conviction. Abeysekera also ran the investigation into the LTTE assassination attempt on former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. A few years ago, under his direction, CID officials arrested and secured convictions for nine men accused of the gang-rape and murder of Sivaloganathan Vidya, the Jaffna schoolgirl.

More recently, the CID was entrusted with the investigation into the Easter Sunday bombings. As Director of the CID, Abeysekera led that probe and the Department rounded up the NTJ network within 8 days of the bombings.

Colombo Telegraph learns that SSP Abeysekera’s transfer was effected on the basis that he was “too friendly” towards minority communities, especially in light of the CID’s stunning investigation into the Dr Shafi controversy which proved that the entire saga was a politically motivated, Islamaphobic witch-hunt against a Muslim surgeon, spear-headed by the Director of the Kurunegala Hospital, the DIG of the Kurunegala District and other players in the region.

The Rajapaksa regime has considered CID officers high on its list of enemies, after the Department spearheaded a series of investigations into their crackdown on journalists and activists during a decade in power. It is a telling sign that Abeysekera’s transfer was considered such a top priority for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and signals a terrible fate for key investigations the CID was conducting under a new, more pliable director, legal experts said.

Latest comments

  • 13
    47

    Its funny reading the article and all these pathetic comments from people like
    Sinhala man and Amarasiri.
    /
    My dear fools…..
    /
    We have an elected president.
    By an-matched margin.
    Let him run the country as he see fit.
    That’s why we elected him.

    • 25
      5

      S. C. Pasqual
      Thank God for Gotas win.
      No you have a steady job writing on CT, white washing Gota and his cronies.
      This will put food on your table for you and your kids. Pathetic loser.
      Jayawewa!

    • 19
      2

      S. C. Pasqual,

      “We have an elected president.
      That’s why we elected him.”

      That is why the imbeciles elected him.

      He was elected by 70 percent of the Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhists’ , mean IQ 79 and well below 79, while the intelligent and those with common sense Sinhala Buddhist did not elect him.

      Gotabaya is the President of the imbecile Sinhala Buddhists and the small fraction of the Vichy Quisling imbecile, minorities and the courtesy the duo Ranil W and Sirisena.

      This is the great flaw of Democracy., the degree of imbecility of the voters. Read Plato’s Republic.

      • 3
        11

        Mr. Amarasiri aka mean IQ 12,
        /
        So,
        Basically what you are trying to say is….
        Democracy is undemocratic and we should give Presidentship to uneducated loser Sajith Premadasa.
        And that is proper Democracy.
        /
        Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. – Plato in Republic.
        /
        And
        /
        Stupidity – Repeating the same irrelevant and meaningless things again and again and again and again – Pasqual in CT

        • 7
          1

          S C Pasqual,

          Read Plato’s Republic, written around 375 BC. Also read common sense pamphlet by Thomas Paine written in 1775.

          Unfortunately, you need some degree of IQ, to comprehend this, and voting for Gotabaya Rajapaksa does not qualify. It qualifies as a member of the unthinking masses, the imbeciles.

          Written after the Peloponnesian War, The Republic reflected Plato’s perception of politics as a dirty business that sought mainly to manipulate the unthinking masses. It failed to nurture wisdom. It starts out as a dialogue between Socrates several young men on the nature of justice.

        • 7
          0

          SCP:
          I don’t think you got what Amarasiri is saying.

          To put it in terms you will understand.
          We do not allow severely mentally retarded person to make decisions. This is not because we are discriminating against them but because we care.
          Its questionable whether democracy is in the public interest when the majority has a very low IQ.

    • 6
      1

      Just because the President has been elected by an unmatched margin do you think he can do anything he likes? It is similar to intoxicated men manhandling poor pedestrians on the road.

  • 20
    7

    I spent a total of 4 years living in both Malaysia and Singapore due to work. My stay was enjoyable and productive but going from Sri Lanka, I felt very restricted in every way. I was politely told by my work colleagues that it was not in my best interest to criticize anyone or anything that involved the government. They said if I was not happy I should leave for my own safety. When I realized the consequences of free expression I simply went with the flow and minded my own business. Malaysia was less restrictive and people criticized politicians privately but at work no one dared. In Singapore no one said anything anywhere. The Singaporeans seemed absolutely brainwashed and I felt sorry. But I heard that’s the way they want Singaporeans to be. In fact Singaporeans believe that authoritarian rule was a small price to pay for their prosperity. Not that I agreed with them, but I saw their point.
    Come to think of it, democracy in Sri Lanka has given us nothing. We cherish the freedoms we have but we remain a third world country ruled by politicians who play to the gallery. (Mahinda typifies this kind.) So can we really afford democracy? Is Gota’s idea of a democracy more in line with the Singaporean model? At least for now many Sri Lankans say YES. Only time will tell.

    • 20
      2

      Rivado
      Is there corruption in Singapore? Obviously not!
      So they can be happy for what they have.
      But what if there was dictatorship and corruption together in Singapore? Would they still be happy?
      The most likely scenario in Sri Lanka, under Gota, would be the latter, corruption with dictatorship!
      Wouldn’t freedom with corruption start looking more attractive then?
      You don’t know the value of something you have till you lose it.

      • 8
        4

        Gemini Cricket, I totally agree with you. But we are faced with a Hobson’s choice. We have Ranil who stands for freedom, inaction, procrastination and corruption. While Gota stands for authoritarianism, action (with a can do attitude), vision and corruption. Now corruption becomes the common denominator for both sides. So who do we choose? Is it Ranil’s (freedom, inaction & procrastination) or Gota’s (authoritarianism, action, vision). But here’s something to ponder. Since the end of World War II, Japan stands out as the only non-White country to flourish as a developed nation under a five-star democratic system. The Americans wrote their post war constitution and the Japanese people made the miracle happen. But apart from Japan, all other Asian Tigers (S.Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia) have had authoritarian regimes. South Korea in particular had a brutal ex-army general, Chun Doo-Hwan from 1979-1988 who terrorized them initially as a dictator and later as a elected president. He was corrupt to the core but under him South Korea’s economy boomed. Hyundai, Samsung, LG (Gold Star), Kia all became worldwide brands under his guidance and rule. With economic prosperity democracy was restored under President Roh Tae-woo in 1988. But by then, South Korea was on its way to become another Japan.
        My own family is deeply divided. The older ones want Ranil but my nephews and nieces who are well traveled overseas want Gota because they feel democracy can wait until we get back on our feet.

        • 2
          0

          Then Gota can get the USA support and write a constitution with democratic features and do the miracle. , Why do you advise him to follow dictators to develop the country?

        • 3
          1

          Rivado
          I keep seeing your misleading comments under several articles.
          Singapore, Japan, Korea etc are inhabited and ruled by a different calibre of people than Sri Lankan sinhalese.
          The results are clear for all to see. Dont delude yourself.

          • 0
            1

            First, You are one of many thousands of hate mongering, conspiratorial spies hiding in these websites. Who are “Sri lankan Sinhalese?” Sinhalese are Sri lankan, and not Tamil Tigers. Hey, would like to appointment with Sri lanka military officers and identify yourself to the army officers? Would you enjoy ” parabrakram treatment?”

        • 1
          1

          Rivado, it is very difficult make these fools understand that you cant have the cake and eat it at the same time.
          What democracy are we talking about with a bunch of self centered, greedy politicians.

        • 0
          0

          I agree with all you say. But I feel that the youngsters in your family have overlooked the fact that this dictator whom the majority have elected, had several criminal cases for murder and corruption filed against him. I am sure they will not feel the same if they were the children or relatives of Eknaligoda, Lasantha or , Thajudeen!!

    • 9
      0

      Not at all. In Singapore corruption is dealt with harshly, and an entire family does to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.

  • 12
    1

    Removing the officials who provide unbiased service is an indication that Presidents prime objective is to clear the legal impediments from all crimes they committed by him and his family and his group. He is taking all the steps to do that because he has the powers to do that. This is an indication of how he he and his brother going to run this government. I am sure that Sinhala Buddhist people also give Mahinda family a clear mandate to get a two third majority in parliament as they did in 2010. almost all the Buddhist fundamentalists organisations such as BBS, Sinhala Rawaya sponsored by Mahinda family is going to go underground and Gotabaya and Mahinda will do legally what they did during the past four years. This includes Easter Bombing. We can expect more to come in coming months particularly after the General election.

  • 0
    1

    Officers were doing their jobs, What matters is the politicians who convinced those offices, The system has to be changed. Every-time punishment goes to lower levels not the master minders, This is where we lost

  • 3
    2

    I am certain that SSP Shani Abeysekera would have taken appropriate action in saving aal importance information related to Gotabayas involvement in political killings. It was a good decision he left the country otherwise what happened Laith would have happened to him. He will now take these issues UN HR commission and expose the culprits. It will be shame in the part of voters who voted.

  • 6
    0

    As usual Ranil Wicremasinghe is cup sip. He is only interested in himself and his next appointment as Leader of the Opposition! Today it is Shani Abeysekera tomorrow it will be someone else. The Rajapakses would continue with this witch hunt. At the end of the day only yes men will remain in the state services. Enter Goebbels!

  • 0
    3

    When there is a leadership change in a country it is normal to change the important positions.

  • 1
    3

    It is laughable if not horrible for any one to think that Shani will get a ceremonial send off from the CID.
    Kicking him out in the first opportunity is the best thing for the rule of law one can do and he should be grateful for not putting him in the remand,like he did for many without any evidence,for abusing his office.
    All those who did the bidding for their political masters knew very well what fate will befall on them and they deserve every bit of what they get.

  • 0
    1

    Usually CID keeps a watch out on criminals. In “Sorry Lanka” the CID it self (that too whole department) is put on “wanted/ watch out” list. We are truly blessed. Are we ?????

  • 0
    1

    When you elect a president, it is a majority decision.It is true Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected by the majority of Sri Lankan.I am quite sure most of the Sri Lankan do not know why did they vote for Gotabaya.The politicians is in Sri Lanka are well aware that majority of Sri Lankan are have very low IQ.The average IQ of Sri Lankan is only 79.If you look at the countries people with very IQ.They are very well developed countries.Sri Lanka has been independent country over 70 years.The people with intelligence leave the country and bring some foreign exchange to run the country.The others do not contribute to the development of Sri Lanka.That is democracy.You can come back to Sri Lanka in another 70 years time, you will not see very much different.

    • 0
      0

      C. Gunatilake
      Are you deaf, stupid or blind?
      Did you not see the bombs go off in the churches in easter Sunday?
      Did you not hear the people wailing over there loved ones?
      Are you stupid enough to think that the same government who couldn’t even prevent a simple bombing should be entrusted back into power with the hopes of developing and safeguarding the country in the future?
      Gota may not be clean but, during the war, he knew what to do and right now we need a man who knows what to do.

  • 0
    0

    Mr Jayasuriya
    You proved my point, the majority of Sri Lankan has very low IQ. This country will never develop and stay in the 3rd for ever.

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