News

May 09 mayhem: C’bo HC lawyers gun for Johnston

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/26

Sahan Weerasooriya

Change at CID top amidst high profile probe

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association has questioned newly appointed DIG, CID, Prasad Ranasinghe as regards, what the outfit called, the glaring double standards in dealing with SLPP lawmakers under investigation over their alleged involvement in the unprovoked attacks on people demanding the resignation of the government on May 09.

Association’s President Lakshman Perera yesterday (25) told The Island that the CID arrested two lawmakers, Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayatilleke, on May 17, whereas several other members of Parliament, including Johnston Fernando, the main speaker at the Temple Trees event, that had been widely blamed for the subsequent violence, were yet to be produced in court.

Attorney-at-Law Perera made available to The Island, a copy of a letter, dated May 25, addressed to DIG Ranasinghe by Attorney-at-Law Tenny Fernando, the convener of the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association. The letter has been also copied to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, HRC Chairperson retired Supreme Court justice Rohini Marasinghe and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam.

Pointing out that MP Jayatilleke hadn’t been even in the group of persons who were slapped with a travel ban, lawyer Perera has asked DIG Ranasinghe whether he is in possession of any evidence which may have contributed to the arrest of Jayatilleke and Sanath Nishantha other than video footage and photographs taken on that day.

DIG Ranasinghe, who had been based in Nuwara Eliya, was brought in on May 23 as DIG, CID, after DIG. W. Tillekeratne, the senior officer in charge of the unit asked for a transfer.

Lawyer Perera said that before the change of leadership took place at the CID, the police recorded several statements, regarding the May 09 incidents, although MP Johnston Fernando was called in following the transfer of Tillekeratne. The CID recorded Johnston Fernando’s statement over four hours on May 24.

Among those who had been questioned so far were lawmakers Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sanjeewa Edirimanne, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and C.B. Ratnayake.

Lawyer Perera said that no less a person than President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in a televised address to the nation, on May 11, assured that those who instigated violence would be dealt with.

Maj. Gen. (retd.) Jagath Alwis, who had been the Secretary to the Public Security Ministry, at the time of the incidents, no longer serves the Ministry. S. Hettiarachchi, on Tuesday, received appointment as Secretary, Public Security Ministry, from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association alleged that the police had gone flat out in Colombo, its suburbs and the provinces where over 1,500 persons were taken into custody over their alleged involvement in the retaliatory attacks, whereas the CID dragged its feet over the initial investigation.

The outfit warned DIG Ranasinghe that the failure on their part to conduct an impartial investigation would cause irreparable damage to the once-respected unit.

Tillekeratne, who had been once assigned to President Mahinda Rajapaksa security unit, was named Director, CID, in late Oct 2021. Tillekeratne succeeded Prasad Ranasinghe. Now, Ranasinghe has been brought back to the CID, as the DIG, in charge of the unit. In his previous stint, Tillekeratne had been Director, CID.

Lawyer Perera said that they closely followed the case amidst growing concerns that relevant laws were being applied on an individual basis or common principles in terms of the Criminal Procedure Code Act No 15 of 1979.

The Attorney-at-Law also drew the public attention to serious accusations directed at the SLPP hierarchy, in Parliament, with lawmaker Dr. Ramesh Pathirana alleging the Senior DIG in charge of Colombo disregarded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s specific instructions to stop the SLPP march on Galle Face.

Responding to another query, the lawyers’ spokesperson said that they planned further action, depending on the CID Chief’s response. The official appreciated the action initiated by the Attorney General, as regards the May 09 attack on protesting public, though the police seemed to be dragging their feet.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.