Sri Lankan diplomat Sepala Ratnayake’s name has been mentioned in connection with the investigation into the death of former Rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, top Police sources told Asian Mirror.
Ratnayake, who was attached to the Sri Lankan mission in London, had allegedly assisted one of the suspects of Thajudeen’s case to escape to London, the source further added.
“Some key figures whom we have identified as possible suspects of the Thajudeen case are still in Sri Lanka. They cannot escape now. However, another person who is linked to the case is presently overseas and we later found out that he left the country, some time back, with the support of Ratnayaka,” the Police source further added.
A lawyer by profession, Ratnayake was serving in the Presidential Secretariat as the chief legal officer at the time and was posted as the Minister (Consular & Immigration) in the Sri Lankan High Commission in London in November 2013.
Ratnayake is already facing a court case in Sri Lanka involving a 14- year old child who appeared in a news item during the last Presidential election.
In the news item aired on the state- run ITN at the time, the child claimed that Maithripala Sirisena, who was the Common Candidate of the Opposition at the time, was detaining his mother.
This incident led to legal action involving eight suspects including some high profile officials including Ratnayake.
It transpired in court that an Interpol ‘red warrant’ had been issued against the former diplomat.
Ratnayake is known to be a close ally of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Asian Miror
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Suspects of Thajudeen Killing To Be Arrested Soon After Magistrate's Verdict: Three Ex-PSD Officers Traced
The suspects of the killing of former Rugby player Wasim Thajudeen can be arrested immediately after the verdict of the magisterial inquiry into the death, a top CID sources told Asian Mirror.
The verdict of the magisterial inquiry into Thajudeen’s killing is due on December 10.
A senior Police spokesman who wished to remain anonymous told Asian Mirror that the CID had been able to trace three ex-PSD officers who were possible suspects of Thajudeen’s murder. He further added that the CID established Thajudeen’s death as a murder, a few months ago.
Suspicions were also directed at a Sri Lankan national presently living in the United Kingdom. According to CID sources, he had entered the United Kingdom with the supporter of a former diplomat who is also under investigation in connection with a number of allegations.
Investigations were also underway to ascertain whether a jeep belonging to ‘Siriliya Saviya’ organisation, headed by former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, was used to abduct Thajudeen before his murder
The investigations into Thajudeen’s death were carried out by the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department.
The JMO report presented to court last week concluded that Thajudeen’s death was a murder and the Rugby player had been assaulted and tortured with a blunt weapon.
It also stated that there was evidence to believe that an accident-scene had been created and Thajudeen’s body had been put into the partially burnt vehicle.
The verdict of the magisterial inquiry will be based on the JMO report and other evidence presented before the Magistrate’s Court.
Asia Miror
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