CID summons Chief of Defence Staff for questioning

The CID has summoned the country’s topmost ranking military official CDS Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne to provide a statement in connection to the abduction of 11 youth between 2008 - 2009 by a group of Navy officers. The CID has accused the CDS of helping one of the main accused in the case Lt. Com Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath to abscond and leave the country. According to witness statements the CDS had provided Navy Sampath with the necessary monetary funds to escape. 

While Wijegunaratne was previously called before the CID, however, he avoided the summons by travelling abroad. Sources say President Maithripala Sirisena has been protecting the CDS and preventing his arrest. The President even attempted to transfer investigating officer of the case IP Nishantha Silva last week. However, it was later overturned following due to pressure from media, civil society and members of the public. The Navy group led by several Naval officers had abducted 11 men in 2008 - 2009 as part of an extortion racket.