CID commences investigation into Aranthalawa Massacre in 1987- AG

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

The Attorney General yesterday informed Supreme Court that the CID has commenced an investigation into the Aranthalawa massacre that took place on June 2, 1987, at Aranthalawa killing one Nayaka Thera and 30 Samanera Buddhist monks. 

Senior State Counsel Dr. Awanthi Perera appearing for the Attorney General made these remarks when a Fundamental Rights petition filed by a Buddhist monk who survived the Aranthalawa Bhikkhu Massacre was taken up for support. 

The petitioner Ven. Andaulpatha Buddhasara Thera who sustained critical injuries is seeking an order to prosecute any living terrorist involved in the massacre. 

SSC Awasthi Perera stated that the Attorney General has given instructions to police to conduct an investigation into the incident and thereby a statement has already been recorded from the petitioner, the Buddhist monk. She assured the court that the progress of the investigations will be presented to the court on the next date. 
Counsel Moditha T.B. Ekanayake appearing for the petitioner admitted the fact that CID has recorded a statement from his client for the first time after a 30-year-period. 

When the petition came up before the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Achala Wengappuli and Justice Janak de Silva matter was fixed for support on October 21.  The petitioner is also seeking compensation of Rs. 20 million from the state. 

The petitioner has named Acting IGP, State Intelligence Director and Attorney General as respondents. 
The petitioner states that no legal proceeding has ever taken place about the Aranthalawa LTTE attack, and it is a violation and continuous infringement of Fundamental Rights guaranteed to the petitioner and others.  Filing this petition through counsel Moditha T.B. Ekanayake, counsel states that he is filing this petition on behalf of the petitioner and as well as his Guru most venerable Sri Indrasara Thera and other brother novice Buddhist monks who were brutally killed in the massacre. 

The petitioner states that both Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Colonel Karuna Amman and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan commonly known as Pillayan are former LTTE terrorists who were active in Eastern Province. The petitioner further said some time back Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan was the leader of LTTE in Eastern Province. 

The petitioner states that some of the LTTE terrorists directly involved or aided and abetted the Aranthalawa attack has given up terrorism and are involved in politics. 

The petitioner stated that four LTTE terrorists have got into the bus with swords, big manna knives, and threatened the driver to drive into the jungle off the road. Then the Venerable Sri Indrasara Nayaka Thera was robbed, and he shouted asking the terrorists to kill him and let the young novice Buddhist monks go. The petitioner who was in a seat in the last back row also was shot and thereafter petitioner cannot recollect his memory until such time he regained  consciousness in a hospital. 

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The petitioner states that some of the LTTE terrorists directly involved or aided and abetted the Aranthalawa attack has given up terrorism and are involved in politics