Investigations Expand Following Statement by Former Navy Commander Ulugetenna
Former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenna has admitted during a Crime Investigation Department (CID) investigation that the underground torture facility known as ‘Gun Site,’ located within the Trincomalee Navy Camp, functioned as an illegal prison.
Based on his testimony and corroborating witness accounts, the CID has uncovered that up to 60 individuals—including two foreign nationals—were detained at this unregistered facility.
Following these revelations, CID officers, under orders from the Polgahawela Magistrate, requested the current Navy Commander to provide a list of detainees. However, Vice Admiral Kanchana Panagoda has yet to provide the requested information.
The CID’s Social Crime Investigation Unit has been probing the abduction and disappearance of 11 individuals, including five students, who were taken in white vans from Colombo and surrounding areas. These investigations led to the discovery of the underground detention site ‘Gun Site,’ where further evidence emerged regarding the abductions of Shantha Samarawickrama from Kegalle and Pradeep from Ippagamuwa.
The CID confirmed that both individuals were held at the ‘Gun Site’ camp and submitted a report to the Fort Magistrate. A separate investigation was launched into Shantha Samarawickrama following a complaint by the Kegalle High Court Registrar. Initially, police claimed Shantha had escaped custody while receiving hospital treatment after being arrested by Alawwa Police on July 23, 2010. However, CID findings revealed that he was secretly detained at ‘ Gun Site’ with Navy assistance and subsequently disappeared.
So far, five police officers—including the former Crime Branch Officer of Alawwa Police—and five Navy personnel, including Commander Ranasinghe who oversaw the ‘Gun Site’ camp, have been arrested. Former Navy Commander Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna was arrested on July 28. Witnesses confirmed that Shantha Samarawickrama was held at the camp for six months after his disappearance in July 2010.
The CID has interrogated Ulugetenna, who served as Director of Naval Intelligence from October 1, 2010, to 2013. He stated that upon assuming office, he visited the ‘Gun Site’ camp with written permission from then Navy Commander Somathilaka Dissanayake. He confirmed that 40 to 60 individuals were detained there.
Ulugetenna admitted that ‘Gun Site’ was not a registered prison and operated illegally. The CID informed the court that he may be charged under Penal Code sections 356, 141, 296, 32, and 47—for crimes including kidnapping, illegal detention, gang membership, murder, and complicity.
Evidence also suggests that the Navy Commander Somathilaka Dissanayake and the Eastern Naval Commander Kolombage were aware of the camp’s operations. Both have now been included in the investigation.
Ulugetenna further revealed that a unit called the Special Intelligence Unit operated at ‘Gun Site,’ independent of the official Navy Intelligence Department. He stated that Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake, who had no formal ties to Naval Intelligence, issued orders to this unit. Personnel involved included Ranasinghe, Podi Kumara, Loku Kumara, Ratnayake, Chandamali, and Kausalya. Ulugetenna claimed he later disbanded the unit.
The CID is now investigating the activities of this Special Intelligence Unit. Although an identity parade for Ulugetenna was scheduled for July 30, the court canceled it based on submitted arguments. Witnesses, including Bharathi (former LTTE intelligence head) and Navy officer Wijekoon, confirmed that two foreign nationals were among those detained at ‘Consite.’ Investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court was informed that Navy Intelligence personnel have been following and intimidating CID officers involved in the case—including Chief Inspector Ilangasinghe, Deputy Inspector Namal, and Sergeant Rajapaksa.
Based on Navy soldier Wijekoon’s testimony, the CID attempted to locate Karan and Saritha, a husband and wife formerly employed in the cotton industry, now residing in Switzerland. After contacting their family by phone, Navy Intelligence reportedly visited their home.
Upon learning this, the CID summoned the involved Navy personnel and recorded their statements. They claimed that Lieutenant Commander Rupasinghe, head of Naval Intelligence in Kankesanthurai, had instructed them to follow the CID team. Rupasinghe later stated that the decision was his own.
During the July 30 hearing at Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court, the CID reported Rupasinghe’s actions, as he was present at the proceedings. The case against Ulugetenna is scheduled to resume on August 13. He remains in remand custody, and the Magistrate has ordered the CID to submit a progress report by August 24.
With the inputs from Weerakasari news story by எம்.எப்.எம்.பஸீர்.