Four Army personnel arrested over Prageeth’s disappearance

Dharisha Bastians

The Criminal Investigations Department has arrested four Army personnel in connection with the disappearance of cartoonist and Journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, who was last seen in January 2010.

The arrests were made after CID sleuths summoned two lieutenant colonels, one sergeant and a corporal for questioning yesterday, the Police Media Unit said.

Previously CID arrested two members of military intelligence in connection with Ekneligoda’s disappearance, both former members of LTTE and attached to ex-Tiger Eastern Commander Karuna Amman’s forces.  The suspects claimed they had abducted Ekneligoda and handed them over to an Army camp in Giritale in the North Central Province. The two lieutenant colonels had been in charge of the camp where Ekneligoda was reportedly detained following his abduction. 

The scribe disappeared five years ago in January. His wife Sandhya Ekneligoda has sought international assistance to locate her husband, making submissions at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and campaigning with rights groups. The Ekneligoda family has also filed a Habeas Corpus petition that is still being heard.