Former CID Director to get special Police protection

The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal that steps will be taken to provide adequate protection to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) former Director SSP Shani Abeysekara. 

The AG represented by Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya appeared for the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses and gave the courts this assurance when the writ petition filed by Shani Abeysekara seeking protection for him and his family was taken up before the Court of Appeal yesterday. 

Abeysekara had requested the court to give an order directing the police to provide the necessary security to him and his family in compliance with the directives of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses.

Accordingly, ASG Rohantha Abeysuriya said two armed Police personnel will be provided to the petitioner considering the threat levels against him while an additional officer will be provided for the prediction of his residence. 

He also said that should SSP Abeysekara decide to change the location of his residence, arrangements can be made to provide him with a safe house. 

Responding to Abeysekara, Upul Jayasuriya PC appearing for the petitioner said he was satisfied with the arrangements offered. However, he also said should the respondents fail to provide protection as promised contempt of court papers will be filed before the Supreme Court against the respondents.  

The petitioner had named the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, IGP Chandana Wickramaratne, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and several others as respondents.