Five victims, whose fathers and children have been murdered or forcibly disappeared by agents of the Sri Lankan military between 2008 and 2009, have today written to the Attorney General appealing him to protect the life of former CID Director Shani Abeysekara.
Shani Abeysekara
We publish below the letter in full:
Hon. Dappula de Livera, Attorney General,
Attorney General’s Department, Hulftsdorp,
Colombo 12
Dear Mr. de Livera,
Appeal to protect the life of former CID Director Shani Abeysekara
We, the undersigned, are victims of grave and violent crimes under the laws of Sri Lanka. According to evidence tendered by your own department to the Sri Lankan courts, our fathers and children respectively, have been murdered or forcibly disappeared by agents of the Sri Lankan military between 2008 and 2009. In all cases, your department was only able to lead this evidence before magistrates and high courts thanks to investigations conducted or supervised by Mr. Abeysekara in his capacity as a senior officer and later director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
After so many years of stonewalling, Mr. Abeysekara was one of the few impartial police officers who had the courage to seek justice for our families. If every public servant had the backbone, integrity and conviction of Mr. Abeysekara, our loved ones would still be alive today. By doing his job and seeking justice for those we lost, Mr. Abeysekara’s own life is now in danger. We owe a debt of honour to speak on his behalf.
Until late November 2019 when he was removed from the CID, Mr. Abeysekara was receiving personal security from the state due to grave threats on his life emanating from his investigations into crimes committed by powerful people. Since then he has had his security removed, been interdicted without a charge sheet, and been arrested on dubious, belated, contradictory statements made by witnesses in a murder case that was resolved years ago. Police investigating him have been accused of soliciting false statements from those they have questioned [1].
On 20th August, Mr. Abeysekara sought bail from the Gampaha High Court. The case was taken up on 27th August, 17th September, 6th October and 12th November. On every one of these occasions, your department either failed to appear in courts, failed to take up a position, or pleaded for more time to study the matter. As a result, Mr. Abeysekara was forced to remain in remand custody alongside the hardened criminals he had brought to justice for serious crimes.
Yesterday, we learned that Mr. Abeysekara is said to have contracted COVID-19 in remand custody, and he is now in military custody at Gallewa, Pollonaruwa[2]. Placing him in military custody after he has helped your department bring charges against scores of military officers for kidnapping, torturing, extorting and murdering our family members places Mr. Abeysekara at grave risk of retaliation. It is clear to all who are willing to see that powerful people want to take Mr. Abeysekara’s life.
We were shocked to learn that when Mr. Abeysekara’s bail application was taken up today at the Gampaha High Court, your officers vigorously objected[3] to bail, showing complete disregard for protecting Mr. Abeysekara’s life. Why does your department take the position that Mr. Abeysekara’s life is worth less than that of former senior LTTE leader Pillayan, or any of the other suspects including drug dealers you have helped get bail during to the pandemic?
We beg you to reconsider your objection to granting bail to Mr. Abeysekara, and ask that you show this priceless investigator, key witness and national hero at the same standard of compassion, care and consideration that you have shown to former terrorists and narcotics peddlers. If even you fail to stand by Mr. Abeysekara when his life hangs in the balance, no police officer will dare to investigate serious atrocities in the future.
Yours faithfully,
Saroja Govindaswami Naganathan,
Mother of Rajiv Naganathan,
Abducted and disappeared on 17th September 2008
Don Mervyn Premalal Weerasinghe and Jamaldeen Jennifer Weerasinghe,
Parents of Dilan Jamaldeen,
Abducted and disappeared on 17th September 2008
Ameenathul Jiffriya Sabreen,
Mother of Mohamed Sajid,
Abducted and disappeared on 17th September 2008
Vishwa Govindasawami,
Father of Pradeep Vishwanathan,
Abducted and disappeared on 17th September 2008
Ahimsa Wickrematunge,
Daughter of Lasantha Wickrematunge, Murdered on 8th January 2009
[1] CCD accused of pressuring CID sleuth to falsely implicate Shani, Daily FT (August 5, 2020), http://www.ft.lk/front-page/CCD-accused-of-pressuring-CID-sleuth-to-falsely-implicate-Shani/44-704124
[2] Ex-CID Chief Shani taken to Gallella COVID-19 treatment centre, The Morning (November 26, 2020), http://www.themorning.lk/ex-cid-chief-shani-taken-to-gallella-covid-19-treatment-centre/
[3] Bail for Shani to be decided on 07 Dec: Prisons chief instructed to take steps to save his life, The Leader (November 26, 2020), https://english.theleader.lk/news/925-bail-for-shani-to-be-decided-on-07-dec-prisons-chief- instructed-to-take-steps-to-save-his-life
Plato / November 26, 2020
Appealing to the AG is like throwing water on a Ducks Tail.
Pillaiyan VS Shani Abeysekera.
Where is this country heading towards?
Srilanka has been Rewired by a so called Learned society VIYATH MAGA!
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Captain Morgan / November 26, 2020
The Executive President, despite the support provided by the Tri-forces, 30+ Cabinet Ministers and 150+ Members of Parliament, still cannot turn a man into a woman or vice versa.
But there is one thing he can do very well – He can turn a COP into a ROBBER and a ROBBER into a COP. He can also turn Convicted Murderers into Members of Parliament. In fact, this sort of thing appears to be one of his favourite hobbies!
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Raj-UK / November 26, 2020
In UK, there is the Police Federation to look after the interests of their own until duly convicted by a court of law. Until such time, a person is considered innocent & has the backing of the Union or it may conduct its own internal investigations & the person concerned sent on ‘Gardening leave’ until investigations are concluded. A highly commended senior office to be languishing in remand custody for months with common criminals without being charged is a shameful fact of SL’s justice system. In the absence of any protests by the Human Rights Commission of SL, the mass media & the civil society in general, at least a few grateful citizens who, themselves, have suffered pain & injustice, having the guts to speak out, is commendable.
Many in SL, although disapproving the current lawlessness & autocratic rule, watch helplessly but unless there is public outcry, yobs & thugs will be walking all over the citizens of SL. I am reminded of the words of a German citizen under Hitler’s rule ‘……First they came for the Gypsies, communists & Jews & I did not say anything because I was not one of them, then they came for intellectuals & critics but I didn’t say anything because I was not one them, then they came for me & there is nobody to say anything….’
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MyView / November 29, 2020
Yes it was by Martin Niemoller, a pastor in the Lutheran Church of Germany.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
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