SSP Shani Abeysekara vindicated

The former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) SSP Shani Abeysekara and four other police officers were discharged by the Gampaha Magistrate Court yesterday in connection to a case relating to Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vass Gunawardena. 

Abeysekara, Inspector Nishantha Silva, Sub-Inspectors Sugath Mendis and R. Premathilake were accused of fabricating evidence in the murder case against former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Gunawardena and four other police officers. 

Gunawardena was convicted and sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of Colombo-based businessman Mohamed Shiyam in May 2013 based on investigations conducted by the CID led by Abeysekara at the time. 

The Gampaha Magistrate yesterday discharged all four suspects, following submissions made by the Attorney General’s Department. The state counsels representing the department pointed out that based on the Attorney General’s advice, the suspects are recommended for release due to insufficient evidence provided by the complainants to substantiate the allegations against Abeysekara and his associates.

The order for their release came amidst the opposition of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) which pleaded with the court to reconsider the instructions of the Attorney General. Abeysekara was first arrested in July 2020 and was charged under the Offensive Weapons Act and Explosives Devices Act by the CCD. 

Counsel Chaminda Athukorala, representing the defendants, informed the court that the decision to proceed with a case or to release the implicated suspects rests with the Attorney General, not the investigating officers. Taking into account the arguments put forth by both sides, the Magistrate cleared the four suspects of all charges.