IGP and ex-Defence Secy further remanded

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara and former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded till 3 December by Colombo Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage over the Easter Sunday attacks.

At the outset of inquiry before Court, the CID, filing a report, informed Court that they had checked on 74 bank accounts alleged to belong to the suspects.

They said that they were not able to locate any accounts belonging to Hemasiri Fernando. The CID asserted that there were five in the name of IGP Pujitha Jayasundera in the National Savings Bank. Accordingly, the allegation of money laundering by the Attorney General has been proved to be false.

They also said that the investigations did not reveal any connections of the suspects with the proscribed National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) movement, or to suicide bomber Zahran. The CID is further carrying out investigations on the two suspects to determine their involvement with the NTJ movement and on the alleged money-laundering charges.