SSP Shani Abesekara arrested

By Nirmala Kannangara  

Former CID director SSP Shani Abeysekara was arrested last morning by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). 

Police sources told Daily Mirror that he was arrested on suspicion of having fabricated evidence on firearms in the case connected to the 2013 contract killing of businessman Mohamed Shiyam in Bambalapitiya.  

In 2013, the CID, under then ASP Abeysekara, investigated the killing, arresting several police officers including former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu. During the trial, the businessman who had given Gunawardena the contract to kill Shiyam testified for the prosecution as a crown witness and confirmed having paid the DIG. The Government Analyst’s Department matched the weapon used in the killing to that found hidden by the defendants.  

• In 2013, the CID, under then ASP Abeysekara, investigated the killing,  arresting several police officers including former DIG Vaas Gunawardena  and his son Ravindu.