IP Nishantha Silva travels overseas: Many more officials to flee-MP Rohitha Abeyagunawardena

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Police Headquarters has informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department to immediately launch an inquiry over IP Nishantha Silva travelling overseas without prior approval. IP Nishantha Silva who served as the officer-in-charge of the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department travelled to Switzerland last afternoon. Police Spokesperson SSP Ruwan Gunasekera speaking to News 1st said if any police officer is to travel overseas for official or personal reasons, it is mandatory to obtain approval from the Secretary to the Ministry. SSP Gunasekera said the Inspector of Police, however, had travelled overseas without approval. Nishantha Silva is well known for handling several high profile cases including the Lasantha Wickremetunge assassination and the abduction of 11 youth from Colombo. He added the IP faced criticism for operating in a biased and unjust manner with respect to certain investigations during the past 04 years, and various factions had requested an independent investigation against the IP, and the IP had left the country against such a backdrop. The Police spokesperson went on to say, the IP had in fact left the country when no investigation or disciplinary inquiry was initiated against him. Citing IP Nishantha Silva's overseas travel as a breach of Police discipline, SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said disciplinary action will also be instituted against the IP. Government Parliamentarians criticized IP Nishantha Silva for travelling overseas without prior approval. UPFA MP Rohitha Abeyagunawardena: "Now IP Nishantha of the CID, the man who did all of this had fled the country last afternoon without even informing the police. What is the message that this gives us, it is very clear. The people who embarked on a political witch hunt are now fleeing the country because they are not able to answer these questions. There is another person. These are henchmen, bigshots will flee now. Three ministers are now attempting to travel to Singapore under the guise of seeking medical treatment. The former minister of health is falling ill quite often now. But we ask you, honourable president, to record a statement from Rajitha Senaratne and the two people with beards that he brought that day. They had not just bent the law but completely chewed on it. We request Hon. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to implement the law strictly against all of the people involved in this." Wimal Weerawansa, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development, Industry and Supply Minister noted that from the expeditious process those ministers were granted a visa to travel overseas prove where their allegiances lie. He added that they were able to save the country from the forces whose allegiances were with foreign nations. Journalist: Can other people leave like this too? Minister Wimal Weerawansa noted that they have been informed that two other officers have obtained visas to flee the country with their entire families. He added that they are connected to the Police intelligence. "I spoke with the secretary of defence and informed him to take measures to prevent them from leaving the country." the minister added.