Eknaligoda family fears case in danger of being dropped

• Wife claims CID unable to continue investigations due to lack of court order
• Headed to Geneva to attend UNHRC sessions
• Urges the President and Prime Minister to keep the investigations going
• Dismisses allegations of LTTE links

Sandya Eknaligoda

By Himal Kotelawala 

Investigations into the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda must continue without being stalled under the guise of national security, his wife Sandya Eknaligoda said yesterday.

Speaking at a press briefing on the current state of investigations, Mrs. Eknaligoda and son Sanjaya Eknaligoda said there were attempts by some parties with vested interests and certain sections of the media to portray Eknaligoda in a bad light, accusing him of having had ties with the LTTE.

“There is a false allegation made against Prageeth that he had links to the LTTE. Some newspapers are slinging mud at him through anonymous columnists,” charged Mrs. Eknaligoda.

The Attorney General had granted the CID permission to conduct investigations at locations linked to the disappearance, but the CID has been unable to receive a court order for this purpose, she said.

Mrs. Eknaligoda recalled that on the eve of the parliamentary election she had requested the Inspector General of Police and incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena to reveal the truth discovered by the CID through their investigations.

“Once again I urge him to publicise these findings. Let the people learn the truth,” she said.

She also urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to make sure the investigations are carried out to their conclusions. “The world is watching what you’re doing. We worked hard to elect you. We have high hopes. Please continue this,” she said.

Sanjaya Eknaligoda, meanwhile, charged that media friendly towards the previous regime continue to sling mud at his father, adding that whatever allegations levelled at Eknaligoda should’ve been looked into in accordance with the law of the land.

“If someone did something wrong, you have to act according to the law. You don’t abduct them,” he said.

And the allegations levelled against his father are blatantly false, he added.

“The whole world is now looking at Sri Lanka’s solution to the problem of disappeared people. So many commissions have been established, none of which have issued a decent report. Impartial, honest investigations must once again be carried into these cases,” Sanjaya said.

The Eknaligoda family also questioned the appointment of Arundika Fernando as a deputy minister in the UNF-led Government, alleging that he had made false claims about Eknaligoda in the past.

“We don’t know why such a person was given a portfolio,” said Sanjaya.

“Journalists have a right to maintain relations with their contacts. If I have connections with a Tamil, does that make me a Tiger? If a person is Tamil, does that mean he’s a Tiger?” he asked. Mrs. Eknaligoda said the previous government had no problem with working with actual LTTE-ers. 

“There were former LTTE leaders directly responsible for murders, holding high office in the previous government,” she said.

She will be travelling to Geneva this Sunday to attend the upcoming UNHRC sessions, where she will, once again, bring up the case of her husband’s disappearance.

“I don’t know what will happen by the time I get back. Due to their influence, some of these officials might be relieved of their duty. If that happens, the investigations cannot continue,” she said.

“Isn’t national security about the safety of this country’s people? Or is it about protecting officials?” she asked. Pic by Lasantha Kumara