24 November 2019 02:50 pm
IP Nishantha Silva, the OIC of the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had left for Singapore with his family today, sources said.
IP Silva was handling investigations into many major incidents including the murder of editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and the abduction and the assault of journalist Keith Noyahr.
Last year he was transferred to the Negombo Division on service requirements.
However, the transfer was later cancelled after several civil organisations and Amnesty International had expressed concern over the transfer.
IP Silva is known for heading investigations into at least 60 crimes committed by the LTTE, the rape and the murder of student Sivaloganathan Vidhya, the abduction of 11 youths in Colombo and Chief of Defence Staff Ravindra Wijegunaratne’s alleged involvement in harbouring a suspect of the abduction incident and many more.
IP Silva left the country a few days after the transfer of former CID Director Shani Abeysekara.
Immediately after SSP Abeysekara was removed from CID, IP Silva had reportedly received death threats against his family, the sources said.
The Inspector had previously been provided a security detail in 2018 after a plot to kill him emerged in connection with his role in an investigation into the abduction and murder of 11 youths by navy officers between 2008 – 2009.
When IP Silva had reported these new threats a few days back, his security detail was suddenly withdrawn leaving him and his family vulnerable to attack.
The special security detail tasked with protecting former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, which was put in place due to threats resulting from his role in the convictions of a rogue police squad and former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, has also been withdrawn, the sources said.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and T.K.G. Kapila)