Archives

CID names President's former driver

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigating the attack on the Editor in Chief of the 'Sunday Leader' Lasantha Wickrematunga, yesterday revealed that the former driver of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was Police Constable Driver (PCD) 23274 Yapa Bandaralage Sudath Chandana.

The record reveals that PCD Chandana had been employed as the driver for then Chief Minister Western Province Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 1993. In 1994 also PCD Chandana had been the driver to Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and continued to be her official driver when she was the President elected in 1994 until he left the PSD.

Investigations revealed that the same driver had been working for the former Director PSD SP Nihal Karunaratne.

The PSD driver Chandana was taken into CID custody after questioning by a special CID team in connection with several criminal activities during the last regime.

Lasantha and his wife were attacked by a group of armed men on February 6, 1995. On June 17, 1998 Lasantha's house was attacked and window panes damaged. Police found several gun shot marks on the windows.

Investigations also revealed that Police found 17 spent bullets at the scene of the incident near Lasantha's house.

Earlier the CID arrested three suspects in connection with the same incident, including two wine shop owners of the Homagama Police area. They were remanded pending the identification parade.

The two wine shop owners who were taken into custody by the CID are alleged to have associated with a senior officer of the PSD.

The CID is conducting investigations to ascertain whether the suspect driver, now in custody, had been involved in any other criminal activities alleged to have been committed by the PSD men.

The CID conducted investigations on the directive of Interior Minister John Amaratunga.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager