Ex-CID Chief Shani demands Rs. 1 b in damages from IGP and three top cops

Former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) SSP Shani Abeysekara has sent a letter of demand to four top cops including the current IGP C.D Wickramaratne and Western Province SDIG Deshabandu Tennekoon for falsely arresting and prosecuting him in connection with the Mohamed Shiyam murder case.

The letter of demand has also been sent to two other police officers, namely, Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) Unit 01 OIC  IP Jagath Nishantha and CCD Acting Director ASP Neville Silva.

The letter of demand, issued by Counsel Manjula Balasuriya, alleges that the respondents have manipulated the judicial process to victimise the former CID Chief Abeysekara, who, during his tenure in the time of the Good Governance Government conducted investigations into numerous high-profile criminal cases.

After the change in government in 2019, Abeysekara was suddenly transferred as Personal Assistant to the Galle DIG. 

He was later arrested by the CCD on charges of fabricating evidence in the case against former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Gunawardena, and four other police officers who were accused in the murder of Colombo-based businessman Mohamed Shiyam in May 2013. 

DIG Vaas Gunawardena was convicted and sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of Shiyam based on investigations conducted by the CID led by Abeysekara at the time.

In August this year, the Gampaha Magistrate discharged Abeysekara and other suspects of all charges levelled against them by the CCD.