The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Homagama Magistrate on 23 August that investigations based on information received from 10 government institutions had established the fact that missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda had not been in any way linked to the LTTE nor had he in any manner aided and abetted in any activities of the Tiger rebels.
The CID also added that Ekneligoda had also never been the subject of any legal action by any individual or institution.
It was revealed that the CID had obtained confirmation from 10 government institutions including the Inspector General of Police, the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Air Force and the Commander of the Navy, all of whom had cleared Ekneligoda of any involvement in wrongdoing.
The CID said, all the information gathered in investigations confirmed the fact that Ekneligoda had a clean crime-free record and especially had no connection of any nature with terrorist activities..
This case was taken up for hearing at the official residence of the Magistrate of the Homagama Courts in the presence of Acting Magistrate Saroja Wanigasekera.
The 8 Army Intelligence officers who have been taken into custody on suspicion of collusion in the disappearance of Ekneligoda held in remand custody on a Court order, were presented before the Magistrate at the hearing. The suspects were further remanded until 6 September.
By Niranjala Ariyawansha / Ceylon Today