25 November 2019 12:01 am
By Darshana Sanjeewa and T. K. G. Kapila
Experienced homicide Inspector Nishantha Silva of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) left for Singapore with his family yesterday, sources said.
IP Nishantha Silva who is also the Officer In Charge of the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit of the CID, left the country via the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday morning.
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 Negombo Police Division from the CID immediately after when former President Maithripala Sirisena unconstitutionally appointed the then Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Prime Ministerial post on October 26. The transfer was made to look like it was based on service requirements by the Police Department but unconfirmed reports stated that he was transferred over the requirements of the senior naval official, who’s probe was handled by IP Silva.
However, the transfer was later cancelled after several civil organisations and Amnesty International had expressed concern.
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 leaves the country just three days after his superior and the Director CID SSP Shani Abeysekara was transferred to Southern Province DIG’s office as per a directive of the National Police Commission. 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 When IP Silva had reported these new threats a few days back, his security detail was suddenly withdrawn leaving him and his family vulnerable to attack.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.