Major General Amal Karunasekara admits knowledge of Keith Noyahr abduction

A retired senior Army officer has admitted that he was aware of a Sri Lanka Army safe house in Baduwatta, Gampaha where the journalist Keith Noyahr was detained after his abduction.

Attorney Shehan Silva, appearing for former Chief of Staff of Army retired Major General Amal Karunasekara, who was arrested last month in suspicion of the abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008, told the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court that his client knew about the safe house.

The Attorney made this revelation when the case against retired Major General Amal Karunasekara was heard before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema yesterday.

Earlier during questioning by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Major General Amal Karunasekara has denied any knowledge of the Army safe house in Baduwatta. State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama told the Court that, because of Major General Amal Karunasekara concealing information, a situation was created enabling to uncover sensitive information of the Army.

The Magistrate reprimanded the defendant’s attorney for the exposure of such sensitive information.

Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the CID to obtain a statement from Major General Amal Karunasekara regarding the information provided by Attorney Shehan Silva.

The Magistrate further remanded Major General Amal Karunasekara until 10 September.