Top sleuth Nishantha Silva leaves country

• Silva investigated high-profile cases including journalist Lasantha murder, Ekneligoda disappearance and abduction of Keith Noyahr
• Last week CID Director who Silva worked with was transferred out
• President Gotabaya makes reference to Silva’s departure and says he’s gone to Geneva
• Faults 19A for making Police transfers difficult

CID Officer IP Nishantha Silva who investigated several high-profile cases including the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge and the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda has left the country yesterday with his family.

Police sources said that IP Silva has left the country without prior permission from the Police Department.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who visited the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya yesterday during an interaction with the Chief Incumbent of the Temple Ven. Bellanwila Dharmaratne Thera and other members of the clergy also made reference to Silva’s departure from the country.

“Today I hear Nishantha Silva who was carrying out investigations against us has left the country. He is supposed to have gone to Geneva,” he said.

IP Silva’s departure from the country comes days after Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekera was transferred by the National Police Commission.

The President also made reference to Abeysekera’s transfer saying that there was a big hue and cry about it and said it has become difficult to work with the 19th Amendment in place.

“The IGP cannot transfer a Police officer because of this Amendment. This and the independent commissions have crippled the country,” he said.

Abeysekera who along with Silva investigated several of the high-profile cases was posted to serve as the Personal Assistant the Southern Province DIG last week.

Among the other case that Silva investigated were the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr and the enforced disappearances of 11 youth allegedly by Navy intelligence men.

He also investigated the rape and murder of Vidya Sivaloganath.