Udayan attack: All steps taken to identify culprits

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday that all possible steps will be taken to bring those responsible for the Udayan attack to book.

Six persons have already been arrested in connection with the killing of two staffers of the Uthayan Newspaper on Tuesday in the North. Police investigations into these killings are now in progress. Government Spokesman Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said IGP Chandra Fernando has directed a very senior CID officer to take charge of the investigations.

"They have arrested six persons. The suspects have not been identified at the identification parade. Therefore the Police has to look for other evidence," he said.

He said the Government has taken every possible step to identify the culprits responsible for Tuesday's attack. "The Government has given an assurance that it will find out who was behind the attack.Those responsible will be dealt with according to the law of the country", Minister Yapa said.

He said Police had discovered the spot where the motorcycle used in the attack made a stop. At present the Police are looking into this aspect. "This is the latest position in the current investigations," Minister Yapa said.

Rambukwella said: "The attack coincided with World Press Freedom Day. A media institution is attacked.Who stands to benefit ?".