Gnanakone detained till completion of investigations - CCD

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) probing the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar yesterday told the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena that they have detained Charles Gnanakone Selvakumar, a dual passport holder, who was taken into custody for questioning in connection with the assassination of Kadirgamar, until the completion of investigations.

The other suspects taken into custody in connection with the assassination of Kadirgamar were further remanded till November 7.

President's Counsel Ananda Wijesekera, Senior Counsel for Gnanakone, said he had no objection to court suspending the passport of his client.

His client is an Australian passport holder, Wijesekera told court. SI R.M. A. Rajapaksa who appeared for the Colombo Crimes Division told court that they will forward a further report in connection with him on the next date, SI Rajapaksa said. On the direction of Judge Weerawardena, President's Counsel Wijesekera said that he would undertake to hand over his client's passport to court as early as possible.

Judge Weerawardena allowed an application by the Colombo Crimes Division to persue the bank accounts of the two residents who were living close to the house where former Foreign Minister Kadirgamar was assassinated.

Earlier, the investigators had interrogated at length the two suspects who were taken into custody in connection with the murder.

The investigating team forwarded all the items collected at the scene to obtain expert evidence on several tests including DNA, Fingerprints and Ballistic.

The investigators are closely checking the incidents that took place before and after the assassination on August 12.

The special investigating squad also had questioned the Commanders of the security division of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar.

All clues received by our investigators into the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar points towards the LTTE. The Special Police Squad deployed are trying to ascertain whether the owners of the house where the LTTE assassin who fired sniper bullets through a window at the Foreign Minister was a close associate of the owners.

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated by a sniper bullet fired by an unidentified gunman in Colombo on August 12 night.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Colombo DIG Pujit Jayasundera, Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) Director Senior SP Sarath Lugoda and Colombo South Senior SP S.H. Dayananda are assisting in the investigations.