( Military base in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka)
Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday ordered the CID to launch a probe into the discovery of skeletal remains in the underground prison named ‘Gunside’ located within the Ocean Science Faculty premises of the Naval Command in Trincomalee, during the visit there of an overseas monitoring group that was probing disappearances in the East. The CID also told Court that a Dolphin Mitsubishi vehicle bearing number 6021 had also been discovered in the underground prison. Inquiries carried out on the chassis number had revealed that the vehicle had belonged to John Reed of Kotahena from whom it had been stolen.
The CID also told Court that its investigations had revealed that 11 persons had been abducted and detained at this underground prison.
The CID also told Court that the underground prison cell known as ‘Gunside’ had been sealed on 22 April 2015. The case is to be called on 18 May.
Ceylon Today
Missing persons taken into underground cells at Trinco Navy camp: CID
The 11 persons abducted by unidentified groups in Colombo and surrounding areas in 2008, had been taken to underground detention cells at a Navy camp in Trincomalee which were supervised by a Navy Lieutenant Commander, the CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday.
While revealing the progress of the investigations into the habeas corpus petitions filed by the parents of missing persons, the OIC of CID’s Gang Robbery Unit-Inspector Nishantha Silva told Court that several skeletal remains found at the detention cells have been referred to the Judicial Medical Officer for an analytical report.
Meanwhile, Inspector Silva told Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya that the van which was robbed along with abductee Kasthuri Arachchilage John Reed was found at a Navy camp in Trincomalee.
He said the original colour of the vehicle and its chassis number had been changed. The vehicle has been currently referred to the Government Analyst.
The missing persons had been abducted by an unidentified group at Dehiwala, Battaramulla and Wattala in 2008.
Counsel Achala Seneviratne appeared on behalf of the family members of the missing persons. Further magisterial inquiry into the matter was fixed for May 18.