The Attorney General (AG) informed the Court of Appeal (CA) on Monday (4) that intelligence agencies had uncovered information regarding an alleged conspiracy to assassinate the former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara, by staging an accident while he was travelling.
Additional Solicitor General, President’s Counsel (PC) Rohantha Abeysuriya, who appeared on behalf of the AG, revealed this to the Court when the writ petition filed by Abeysekara – requesting the Court to issue a directive to respondents including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide adequate protection for him due to threats to his life – was taken up for consideration. The writ was called before a bench of judges comprising CA President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Vikum A. Kaluarachchi.
The Court had previously issued an order to the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses to submit a report on the nature of the threats against Abeysekara. When the petition was called before the Court on Monday, Abeysuriya stated that the Intelligence Division of the said Authority had sent a report detailing the nature of the threats against the petitioner.
Upul Jayasuriya PC, who appeared for Abeysekara, presented facts before the Court and said that they cannot be satisfied at all with the protection presently given to his client. Pointing out that only an old motorcycle and three police officers have been deployed for Abeysekara’s protection, he alleged that although the said Authority had issued a directive to the IGP to provide adequate protection to the petitioner, it had not been fulfilled thus far.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, Jayasuriya PC said that they had requested a court order for increased security protection and are presently awaiting the same.
After considering all facts presented, the Court ordered the petition to be taken up once again on 14 December to issue an appropriate order regarding the petition.
National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Chairman Suhada Gamlath PC was not available for comment while Police Media Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police and attorney Nihal Thalduwa said that he would have to contact the CID regarding the same.