The sources revealed that the president has instructed IGP Pujith Jayasundara to act upon his order.
It is also reported that this action has been taken based on an agreement between President Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa at the time of the initial discussions to form the purported government.
Officer who led many high-profile investigations
IP Silva was the chief officer- in-charge of the investigations related to the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickremathunga, abduction and missing of 11 youths including school students in 2008, abductions and near fatal assaults on journalists Keith Noyahr, Upali Tennakoon and Namal Perera etc.
Ravi’s arrest thwarted due to Sirisena’s pressure
Recently, Nishantha Silva became the talk of the town after apprehending Chandana Prasad of Sri Lanka Navy, who was the main suspect of the alleged abduction of the aforementioned 11 youths. It was also revealed during investigations that it was the current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratna, who had shielded him from being arrested by the CID by providing him shelter in a Naval facility.
Although a court order was issued to apprehend Admiral Wijegunaratna, the CID had informed the court later that due to the unwarranted interference of politicians, they could not arrest him.
Moreover, many were baffled to see the suspect (Wijeguneratna) who was ordered by the court to be arrested, take part in a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence to mark the appointment of Hemasiri Fernando as the new secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
Likewise, the relationship between suspects of these cases roaming freely and the sudden transfer of Nishantha Silva is clearly evident.
Nishantha caught Vidhyas’s killers
According to sources, IP Nishantha Silva is one of the talented investigative officers attached to the CID. He was also the officer in-charge of the much talked about “Punkuduthivi Vidya” murder case. He not only revealed the murderers, but also exposed a top official in the police department who had attempted to stash evidence related to the murder case.
Furthermore, it was Nishantha Silva who spearheaded the operation to nab the criminals in connection with the abduction of a girl in Kurunegala.
Independent Police Commission silent?
The motives behind the president to transfer such a highly talented police officer is evident. He formed a purported government and appointed a Premier who couldn’t show the simple majority in the House. The president is the same person that disregarded two no confidence motions against his unconstitutionally appointed prime minister, that were passed by a majority in the House. This president has now started to hound Police officers.
What is more important is the fact that the Police cannot dance to the tune of the executive or the IGP anymore. There is an independent police commission that was reinstated to ensure a system of checks and balances. Furthermore, Nishantha Silva is an exemplary officer who hadn’t tarnished his name with a clean track record.
According to the information we have received, the Police Commission has to recommend the transfer of Inspector Nishantha Silva, who also functions as the head of the division related to organised robberies, to another division. But with president Sirisena gazetting the police department under him, it is not surprising to see him transfer officers that have worked on Rajapaksa era criminal and graft related cases without reverting to the police commission.
What we can tell you is that, the day that Sirisena would come to sting you, the citizens, is not far off. When he would come for you is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.
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