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Former PSD boss spills the beans

by Sarath Malalasekera

Former Director of the President's Security Division (PSD) SP, Nihal Karunaratne in his lengthy statement to the officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday said that it was on the directions of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga that he and several other officers attached to the PSD, who were armed, visited the Cricket Board Headquarters at Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7 on March 28, 1999 while the elections were held for the post of President of the Cricket Board.

The two contestants for the Presidency were former Cricket Board President, Thilanga Sumathipala and former Tea Board Chairman Clifford Ratwatte.

SP Karunaratne appeared before the CID on notice with his lawyers Buddhika Jayasinghe and Nanda Gunaratne. It was revealed that SP Karunaratne had arrived at the CID along with a leading Colombo casino club owner in his luxury vehicle. Investigators said that SP Karunaratne had confirmed the earlier statement made by the then PSD DIG, Victor Perera that he (SP Karunaratne) and officers of other ranks of the PSD visited the Cricket Board Headquarters on the orders of President Kumaratunga.

It was revealed that on the day of the Cricket Board elections, several armed personnel attached to the PSD had entered the Cricket Board room and threatened the officials. At this moment, the head of the PSD Nihal Karunaratne also had been seen in the vicinity.

According to the investigators the PSD men who were in civvies with arms had not only entered the Cricket Board room, but several others had also been waiting outside the Cricket Board premises.

The CID commenced investigations into the incident at the Cricket Board Headquarters where the elections were held for the post of the president of the Cricket Board.

The CID is trying to ascertain the veracity of the video cassettes and several pictures published in the electronic and print media relating to the Cricket Board premises on March 28, 1999.

A senior officer of the CID yesterday told the 'Daily News' that SP Karunaratne will be further questioned in connection with several other matters where the PSD is alleged to have been involved.

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