Homagama Magistrate R.B.Nelumdeniya granted leave to the CID to photograph the Girithale Army Intelligence Corps Camp, where journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda had been allegedly detained, and to examine the books and documents maintained by the camp authorities. The magistrate also ordered the Army Commander to provide all necessary facilities to the CID officers and also to detail Military Police officers to provide security for them.
The CID informed Court that investigations had been initiated following a complaint by Ekneligoda’s wife Sandya Ekneligoda, and that consequent upon the investigations, two lieutenant colonels and several intelligence officers had been detained and were being interrogated. CID submitted to Court a further report on the progress of the investigations.
Attorney Dilipa Pieris, who appeared on behalf of the complainant said that it has been revealed that kidnapped journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda had been detained in the Girithale Intelligence Corps Camp, and sought the Court’s permission to examine the relevant sections of the camp and also to photograph them.
Attorney Peiris further said the intelligence officers had tape recorded a discussion in which Ekneligoda had taken part on 27 August, 2009 on a land in Sigiriya belonging to Ekneligoda; and that the recording had been sent the Director of Intelligence on the following day. He sought Court’s permission to produce the said recording plus the documents sent to the Director of Intelligence and also the mobile phone numbers of the intelligence officers concerned.
The other documents needed for the investigations are the movement register maintained at the main gate to record the arrival and departure of officers who leave the camp premises, the book in which permission to go more than 20 kilometres from the camp is recorded. The attorney sought a court order to obtain these records as they were needed for their investigations. After considering the submissions of the CID, the magistrate granted permission for ASP Shani Abeysekere and other officers of the CID to visit the Girithale Intelligence Corps Camp and conduct the necessary investigations. –