The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today (December 04) that intelligence agencies have uncovered information that there is a conspiracy to kill former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department [CID] Shani Abeysekera while travelling. Sri Lanka Latest News
Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, who appeared for the Attorney General, made this known when a writ petition filed by Shani Abeysekera was called today asking the Inspector General of Police and the respondents to issue an order to provide adequate security to him who is facing a life threat.
The petition was called before the bench of Justice Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne and Vikum Kaluarachchi, President of the Court of Appeal.
The court had previously issued an order to the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority to submit a report on the nature of the threats against Shani Abeysekera.
A serious threat to Shani Abeysekera
When the relevant petition was called before the court today, Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya stated before the court that the Intelligence Division of the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority has a report showing the nature of the threats against petitioner Shani Abeysekera.
The Additional Solicitor General said that according to the report, it has been revealed that there is a serious threat to petitioner Shani Abeysekera and that there is a conspiracy to kill him in a car accident while he is travelling.
President’s lawyer Upul Jayasuriya, who appeared for the petitioner Shani Abeysekera, stated before the court that he could not be satisfied with the protection given to his client.
President’s Attorney Upul Jayasuriya pointed out that only an old motorcycle and three police officers have been deployed to protect the petitioner and alleged that although the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority had issued an order to the Inspector General of Police to provide adequate protection to the petitioner, it has not been fulfilled so far.
After considering all the facts presented, the Appellate Court Judge Bench ordered that it be convened on the 14th to issue an appropriate order regarding this petition.
The Inspector General of Police, Deshbandu Tennakoon, who was the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Western Province at that time, and the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority have been named as respondents in this petition.
Source: BBC Sinhala
