PCoI witness claims CID officers pressured him to make statement on Ekneligoda

They were noticed following a complaint filed by Colonel Prabodha Siriwardena with the commission.

In his complaint, Colonel Prabodha Siriwardena claimed the officers of the Criminal Investigations Department pressured him to state the abduction and enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda was carried out on the instructions of then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Colonel Prabodha Siriwardena providing evidence to the commission on the 18th of August said Former CID Director Shani Abeysekera summoned him to his cabin and connected him to an officer attached to the Badulla Police.

The witness said the Police Officer on the other end of the phone call told him not to be afraid of doing what Shani Abeysekera wants and Shani Abyesekera would do everything required.

The witness said, on the following day an individual identified as IP Iroshan Willawarachchi contacted him and claimed he was officer attached to the Badulla Police.

Colonel Prabodha Siriwardena had recorded the telephone conversation and it was provided to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Monday (24).

In the telephone recording, the Police Officer had said he provided evidence with regard to concealing evidence in the case against Vass Gunawardena based on the instructions of Shani Abeysekera.

The Police Officer had claimed he was prepared to provide a statement to the Presidential Commission and thereby, summons were issued on the Police Officer as well.