An investigation has been launched into a top investigator of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who flee the country.
The Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has been instructed to launch an inquiry into Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Silva after he fled the country yesterday.
Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Silva had fled to Switzerland with his family after he had allegedly faced threats to his life.
The Police said that Nishantha Silva had left the country without the approval of the Police Department.
There were reports that security provided to Nishantha Silva had been withdrawn after his head, Director of the CID, Shani Abeysekara was transferred a few days ago.
The Colombo Gazette learns from reliable sources that just before the Presidential election Nishantha Silva had informed his close aides that he feared for his life if there was a change of Government at the just concluded Presidential election.
Nishantha Silva was involved in the investigations into high profile criminal cases including that of the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickremetunga and the abduction and disappearance of 11 youth and the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
Under Nishantha Silva investigators made a breakthrough into the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda and the disappearance of 11 youth.
Investigators found officers in the Navy and the Army were involved in both cases.
He was however openly criticised by the former opposition, which is now in the Government, for implicating the Navy and the Army over the criminal cases.
Just last week, the National Police Commission had approved the transfer of Shani Abeysekara on a request made by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He was assigned as the Personal Assistant to the Southern Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police.
Shani Abeysekara led CID investigations into the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda, the assault on journalist Upali Tennekoon, the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and the disappearance of 11 youth. (Colombo Gazette)