News
Ex-TID Director says politicians framed him
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Former head of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Nalaka de Silva, on Wednesday, told the PCoI investigating Easter Sunday attacks that he had been framed by politicians who were angered by his refusal to conduct partial investigations.
DIG Silva said that he had been appointed Director of the TID on 27 February 2015 and that he had been working under trying circumstances from the beginning.
Silva said: “TID worked on investigating terrorism, extremism as well as large serious crimes. I had a number of issues from the start. I was given certain instructions that I did not carry out because I didn’t want to conduct politically motivated investigations. There are things I will not do; I can’t do political inquiries or whitewash people.”
The former TID Director said that certain politicians had been angry with him. He said he had asked for a transfer.
Silva said: “But I was not given a transfer. In 2018, I was framed for allegedly conspiring to kill then President Maithripala Sirisena and current Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is the incumbent President. I was accused of having conspired with Namal Kumara, a man who couldn’t steal candy from a baby.”
Silva said that former DIG of the CID Ravi Senevirathne as well as CID Director Shani Abeysekera had interfered in his work.
The witness said that NGOs activists were constantly present at the CID at that time.
Silva added that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), too, had obstructed TID investigations. “When we arrested a suspect , representatives from the HRCSL would visit him. They used to come even before the parents of the suspect. The HRCSL representatives would talk to the suspects for an hour or so and after that it was hard to get statements from them.”
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Winners to receive medals at Western Province School Games after many years
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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Muneeba, Pakistan’s spinners knock Thailand out of Asia Cup
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