Former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda Currently At CID For Third Day Of Questioning Over Disappearance Of 11 Youth

Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda arrived at the CID premises a short while ago for the third day of questioning over the disappearance of 11 youth in Trincomalee.

Karannagoda has so far been questioned on two occasions over the disappearances of 11 youth during his tenure as the Navy Commander. 

The former Navy Commander has maintained that he was not involved in any wrongdoing and promptly brought the matter to the attention of his superiors when the details of the disappearance first surfaced. 

While issuing an interim order preventing his arrest earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered Karannagoda to give an affidavit on non-interference in the investigation and to give a statement to the CID on the matter. 

Accordingly, Karannagoda visited the CID premises on Monday morning to give a statement on the incident. 

The former Navy Commander, however, is likely to be indicted over the disappearance, along with other Navy officers who have been named suspects in the case.

Karannagoda's lawyers. last week, submitted a Fundamental Rights petition to the Supreme Court requesting an order preventing his arrest by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

According to several newspaper reports, the CID last week reportedly has named Admiral Karannagoda as the 14th suspect in the abductions case of 11 youths between 2008/09 for ransom.

Current Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is also a suspect in the case. Karannagoda is also a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan.