25 November 2019 12:35 pm
The Police Headquarters today informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to launch an investigation into the departure of CID’s IP Nishantha Silva from the country without approval.
IP Silva, the OIC of the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit of the CID had left for Switzerland with his family on Sunday.
Police Spokesman SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said it was a serious matter that an OIC of the CID’s Special Unit, who was in charge of several leading investigations had left the country without any approval.
“Moreover, IP Silva’s departure took place at a time where there were no investigations or any disciplinary action being held against him,” he said.
“If a police officer leaving overseas to attend official or personnel matter, it is compulsory to obtain approval from the Secretary of the Ministry. However, IP Silva had left the country without such approval,” he said.
SSP Gunasekera said IP Silva’s departure from the country was illegal and disciplinary action would be taken against him.
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.
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. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)