Ekneligoda is not an LTTE member - CID

The national security council is paying attention to the CID investigations into the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, with top officials of the CID and the Army having a clash of opinions, ‘Sathhanda’ reports.

In the presence of the president, the prime minister and top defence officials at the NSC, head of the CID, senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne refuted attempts by the Army to brand Ekneligoda a member of the LTTE.

Seneviratne said there was no evidence to say the journalist was a trained LTTE cadre, Black Tiger, political member or LTTE sympathizer, adding that he has had links with regional LTTE leaders professionally to obtain information.

The CID chief refuted media reports that Ekneligoda had aided a bomb blast in Colombo and abetted LTTE cadreds.

He had been kidnapped on both occasions by the same group on a political vendetta, said Seneviratne.

On the first occasion, he had been taken to the Panagoda Army camp.

Army has no evidence

The Army intelligence has challenged the DIG on his claims, but failed to furnish evidence that Ekneligoda has had links with the LTTE.

The Army has all documents of LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman, but none of them mention Ekneligoda’s name.

However, Army chiefs said they would submit evidence to courts.

Lt. Col. Shammi Kumara Ratnayake, Lt. Col. Siriwardena, Staff Sergenat Rajapakse, Corporal Jayalath, retired Sergeant Major Ranabandara, Sergeant Major Upasena, retired Corporal Ranjith Rupasena, Corporal Anurajeewa and former LTTE intelligence members Thavendran and Satya Master are under arrest by the CID over the abduction and forced disappearance of Ekneligoda.

After his abduction two days before the 2010 presidential election, the journalist had been taken to the Giritale Army camp, where he had been questioned by intelligence officials.

Maj. Gen. to be quizzed

The CID is to question a Major General as to who given orders in this regard.

Brig. Aruna Wanniarachchi, who had been in charge of Army intelligence at the time, was questioned for more than six hours by the CID.

Police sources say the investigators will also visit two Army camps to make investigations, after obtaining court orders, possibly before September 28.

The CID says the 10 suspects in its custody will be prosecuted.

There was no evidence to point that he had been murdered, but there was evidence to prove he had been abducted and detained, police say.

If found guilty, each of the suspects will be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

Meanwhile, the journalist’s wife Sandya has told the media that a former senior official of the government was behind his abduction and forced disappearance.