• Notes files submitted to AG Department “incomplete”
• Advises Police to finish investigations without delay and submit complete files 

Attorney General yesterday wrote to the Acting Inspector General of Police, advising against submission of “incomplete files” to the AG Department, issuing directions to submit completed investigations on five high profile cases “without delay” after advising carrying out an “expeditious conclusion”. 

The AG Dappula De Livera, in a letter addressed to acting IGP Chandana Wickremeratne, took “serious note” that investigations on five high profile cases has not been concluded “so far, despite reminders.” 

The letter, which comes hot on the heels of the hard-hitting letter by slain editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge accusing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government of inaction over investigations on her father’s murder, was followed by another letter criticising the conduct of the Police for delays in the investigations of five cases, including the attack on the Sunday Leader Editor. 

The AG in his letter lists long delays in investigations on the “murder case of Lasantha Wickramatunge”, “murder of seven persons of an aid group”, “murder of Waseem Thajudeen”, the abduction of Keith Noyahr and the abduction and disappearances of 11 youth. 

The letter has advised the acting IGP to ensure an “expeditious conclusion” of the cases and has directed him to submit completed investigative material for the Department to consider taking action against suspects in the cases “without delay.” 

Further, a second letter sent by the AG has noted the submission of “incomplete files” by the Police Department. 

The Acting IGP was informed that submission of incomplete files for “for the consideration of legal advice and presentation of charges” to the AG Department was in violation of section 393 (6) of the Criminal Procedure Code. 

According to the section 393 (6), when reporting to the AG, the Police is required to supply “a full statement of the circumstances; copies of the statements of all witnesses, such other information, documents or productions as may be relevant or as may be called for by the Attorney-General; and where an inquest has been held, a copy of the inquest proceedings.”

The AG notes that the failure by the Police to strictly comply with these requirements in the Criminal Procedure Code when submitting matters to the AG Department for advice will only result in the return of the file “for due compliance with the relevant provision of the law.”

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