CID statement given on Trincomalee pilot vessel accident

Colombo, April 1 (Daily Mirror) - Social activist and complainant Sanjaya Mahawatte yesterday said that he had given a successful statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for nearly four hours regarding an accident involving a modern pilot vessel stationed at the Trincomalee Harbour, which resulted in a loss of over Rs. 250 million.

Speaking to the media after his statement, Mahawatte revealed that the vessel was operated by Ganaka Hemachandra, Deputy Harbour Master Captain Aranpath, and K.B.S. Jayalath at the time of the accident.

In addition to his complaint, Mahawatte provided information about a group of engineers linked to the incident and the resulting damage. 

He noted that an engineer named Jagath was willing to repair the vessel at a lower cost.

Furthermore, he informed the CID about Engineer Nanayakkara and Deputy Harbour Master Dakshi Wasantha of the Colombo Port, who had investigated the accident. He also stated that Ganaka Hemachandra, now the Managing Director of the Ports Authority, was involved.

Mahawatte expressed hope that the government would take action against Hemachandra, just as it had in the case of the Speaker. He alleged that Hemachandra, the former Resident Manager of Trincomalee Port, used a Rs. 250 million yacht received through JICA assistance for a private trip, leading to the accident and the financial loss.

He further claimed that a certain group had filed a false complaint with the CID to suppress details of the incident and engaged in sabotage, which he said is punishable under Section 198 of the Penal Code.

Mahawatte added that statements from several other individuals were yet to be recorded. He handed over a large file containing all relevant information to the CID, including details about who was using the vessel and the number of passengers on board at the time of the crash. Notably, he mentioned that the son of former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake, who was also a former Port Chairman, was among those present.

Although an earlier complaint should have led to a CID investigation sooner, Mahawatte expressed satisfaction that the CID has now initiated an inquiry. He said that they are expected to issue a report on the complaint he initially filed in January by the end of March.