Wasim Thajudeen’s murder probe entered a phase with potentially serious political repercussions with the Army opening a probe into Captain Tissa Wimalasena who has been identified by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as a major suspect in the assassination of national rugby player WasimThajudeen, sources said.
Investigators claim to have identified links between Captain Tissa Wimalasena and few more killings and other crimes. Last week, the CID also identified Wimalasena’s links to several crimes including assault of the former Secretary to the Judicial Services Commission Manjula Thilakaratne, the sources said. Wimalasena is now detained in an Army camp in Jaffna. He served as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief Transport Officer and was under a corruption charge probe early last year.
Asked what the Army intends doing if Wimalasena is found guilty, Army Commander Crishantha de Silva said the Army would take military action under military regulations against anyone in service who are linked in any way to any of the recent controversial killings. “We will take military action against any wrongdoers before police action is initiated,” he said.
“We cannot let anyone get away with murder even if he is in uniform. The law must be applied equally to all citizens. I will not pardon any member of the Army who is proved to have been connected to any murder. I will not protect them or withhold any information about them. It will be an injustice to honourable members of the force,” he said.
He added, affording any impunity for wrongdoers in the Army would damage the good name of the Army.
Colombo Judicial Medical Officer Ajith Thennakoon reported to Court on 10 December that national rugby star Thajudeen was killed and did not, as earlier believed, die in a motor accident. Thajudeen’s charred body was found abandoned in his car on 17 May 2012 at Park Road in Narahenpita.
( Original caption: Army probing Captain Tissa links )
By Niranjala Ariyawansha