ITN News and Current Affairs Deputy Director Sudarman Radaliyagoda today remanded till February 24 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage over his alleged involvement in the abduction of a child from the custody of his mother.


The abducted child was used in advertisements on behalf of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the presidential election campaign.


Radaliyagoda was earlier ordered to make a statement to the Sri Lanka Police Children and Women’s Bureau.


The Bureau told Court that the investigations were not yet over and according to the investigations carried out so far Radaliyagoda was a wanted person and therefore requested that he be remanded.


Counsel Sanjaya Gamage appearing for Radaliyagoda said his client had gone to the Bureau on his own accord without any notice from the Bureau and made a statement.


He said his client was a public servant who was bound to carry out the orders of his superiors and that the video footage was originally telecast over Rupavahini and thereafter telecast over ITN.


The Counsel said the responsibility for telecasting the video footage had to be taken by the Chairman and not by his client.


He said the Bureau had launched the investigations from the wrong end because of political reasons.


The Bureau had already produced six suspects Samith Nuwan Nandasiri, R. M. Dayawansa, Upul Priyankara, Lalith Chaturange, Sarathchandra Gunathilake and Sudarman Radaliyagoda accusing them of having aiding and abetting in the abduction of the child.


Upul Priyankara and Lalith Madurasinghe were earlier released on bail. Counsel Sanjaya Gamage Shantha Herath Akalanka Ukwatte appeared for the suspects. (TFT)