Armory of Southern Province SIU sealed by CID

Colombo (News1st) - The Criminal Investigations Department sealed the armory of the Southern Province Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which is alleged to have been involved in the abduction and assassination of two businessmen from Rathgama. According to a senior police officer, a special security detail has been posted outside the SIU. Earlier, the CID revealed two businessmen Manjula Asela and Rashin Chinthaka were abducted and murdered inside a house in Akmeemana and their bodies were burnt inside the Uda-Deniya Forest Reserve in Walasmulla. Following the revelation, 15 officers attached to the Southern Province SIU were transferred. 03 of the 15 transferred police officers have failed to report to their new service stations thus far. According to reports the remaining 10 officers of the SIU are also to be transferred to different postings. Sources also revealed that the unit could be disbanded. Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekera speaking to News1st noted that the transferred officers who do not report to their new posting will be considered as individuals who have left the service. Deputy OIC of the SIU, IP Kapila Nishantha De Silva, and SI Viraj Madusanka are currently in remand custody in connection to the disappearance of the 2 businessmen. In addition, Senior DIG of the Southern Province Ravi Wijegunawardena was transferred to Police Headquarters on a temporary basis.