Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of disappeared journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, has sent a letter to the President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka expressing her deep regret and objection to the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Thelge Erantha Radeesh Peiris to the rank of Colonel by him. The officer was indicted by the Attorney General in 2019 on multiple charges, including murder, in connection with the abduction and killing of Prageeth Ekneligoda. The letter states that investigations have identified him as a person directly involved in the abduction and enforced disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda on 24 January 2010.
The Letter: ( Translated from Sinhala.)
January 13, 2026
Sandhya Ekneligoda
No. 136/2, Suhada Mawatha,
Hiripitiya Road,
Pannipitiya.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0772844590
Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo 01
Hon. President,
Subject: Objection to the promotion of Thelge Erantha Radeesh Peiris, the 9th accused in the Prageeth Ekneligoda criminal case
I write this letter to you as the wife of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, who was illegally abducted and forcibly disappeared on 24 January 2010, and as the aggrieved party in the criminal case currently pending before the Colombo Permanent Three-Judge High Court.
It has come to my attention through media reports that you have promoted Military Intelligence Officer Thelge Erantha Radeesh Peiris, who has been named as the 9th accused in this case, to the rank of Colonel. I wish to express my deep regret and strong objection to this promotion, based on the following facts:
Serious Criminal Charges: The Attorney General filed 17 indictments against this officer in 2019 before the Permanent Three-Judge High Court, including a charge of murder.
Investigation Findings: According to investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), he has been identified as the individual who was chased from Habarana to Colombo in connection with the first abduction of Prageeth Ekneligoda on 27 August 2009, and as a person directly involved in his disappearance on 24 January 2010.
Obstruction of Justice: By conferring such a senior rank on an officer accused of grave crimes, there is a serious risk of influencing witnesses, discouraging investigating officers, and undermining the judicial process.
I also wish to bring to your attention that the first accused in this case, a retired Brigadier, has already threatened and influenced a key witness (the 4th witness) through currently serving military officers. A case (No. BR 115/01/PC/2025 B) filed against him by the Crime Victims and Witnesses Protection Division is presently being heard before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court.
Breach of Trust: The trust we placed in your assurances to expedite the Ekneligoda case and ensure justice is deeply shaken by this decision. Granting state honours or promotions to an officer who is standing trial for serious criminal offences is contrary to the principles of the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent.
In light of the above, I respectfully request your urgent attention to this matter and urge you to immediately suspend the promotion of the officer concerned, or to revoke it if it has already been effected.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Sandhya Ekneligoda
Copies:
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Hon. Chief Justice – Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
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Hon. Attorney General – Attorney General’s Department
- UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UNWGEID)