Podi Lassie and Kosgoda Tharaka threaten Prison officials

• If the doors are not opened within a day or two we will activate our plan
• There is no point in attacking the STF with T56. we should use four or five Grenades and die with them

By Nimanthi Ranasinghe and D. G. Sugathapala  

Galle Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela yesterday ordered the Superintendent of the Boossa Prisons to produce in courts on the 25th, the suspect Janith Madushanka De Silva alias “Podi Lassie” a member of an organised criminal gang who had made death threats at the Commissioner of Prisons, and other prison officers.  

The Magistrate also ordered the DIG in charge of the Southern Province to provide special security to the courts and adjoining areas when this suspect is brought before the courts. The courts also directed the Superintendent of Prisons to provide facilities for the officers of the CID in order to record a statement from the suspect Janith Madushanka De Silva alias “Podi Lassie”.  

The CID had named Podi Lassie and Tharaka Perera alias Kosgoda Tharaka as suspects in the alleged threatening. These facts were revealed in courts when the OIC of the crimes investigation unit of the CID Chief Inspector of Police Buddhika Jayasekera submitted a report in this regard.  

The Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris who represented the Attorney General submitted to courts that a group of special detainees at the Boossa Prisons had commenced a boycott of food during the past and when prison officers visited the site on June 26 to investigate this matter these two suspects had made death threats to the officers.  

The underworld suspect Podi Lassie had openly threatened the prison officers, the President, Defence Secretary and their families with death. The Deputy Solicitor stated to courts that the suspects making such threats even being under detention is a serious offence.  

The Prison officers who had visited the cell where suspect number 2725 Tharaka Perera alias Kosgoda Tharaka was detained said that he had been very harsh and vociferous and threatened that if he is not set free as requested he would not hesitate in killing anyone who stands against him the courts were informed. He had said further pointing his finger at the Commissioner of Prisons T.I. Uduwara that he would repeat what Lassie had said and threatened that he, if allowed, would show how fast he would shoot. The President is there only for five years, I am not scared of anyone. Call the Defence Secretary here and I will prove what I am saying. I have my supporters who will act upon my orders. I am soldier of the STF and I am not scared of anyone and if I am not freed I will break the roof of this prison and escape.  

The Prison officers revealed that they had uncovered a secret plan initiated by the detainees and suspected that they were planning for a major offensive. Excerpts of this under cover discussions were detailed in courts. The dialogues as reported to courts state;  

Podi Lassie - Brother Tharaka if the doors are not opened within a day or two we will activate our plan.

  
Kelum- They have not received any intimation from the Defence Ministry to have these doors closed. The order has been made only by word of mouth. They are having the doors closed because they are scared.  

Podi Lassie- The Chief of the STF is now upstairs at a meeting with a Chief of the Prisons.  

Another Detainee- I spoke to the SP personally and said that I value my family more than anything. We do not require phones. Everything what we want is happening outside.  
Podi Lassie- Uru Juwa you went to courts today. How is the situation in Kaduwela, Ranala, and Jalthara. How many STF people went there today?  
Uru Juwa- There is no issue there, six STF officers went there.  

Podi Lassie- There is no point in attacking the STF with T56. They won’t come unprepared, we should use four or five Grenades and die with them. Therefore T56 are not useful, even the STF chief should be killed then only my name will be recorded in history.  

The courts having considered the submissions directed the Superintendent of Boossa Prisons to produce before courts the suspect Janith Madushanka De Silva Alias Podi Lassie on the 25th and postponed the hearing for that day.