Presidential Commission on abduction of Professor Ganganath

Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and Abductions Mahanama Thilakaratne yesterday stated that the inference drawn from the chain of events surrounding the alleged abduction of Professor Ganganath Dissanayake is that the abduction could be considered the result of a certain group desiring to see the exit of the Professor from political activities.

In a Media release the Chairman notes "While the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances, Abductions, Unsolved Murders and Unidentified Corpses, on May 04, 2009, commenced inquiries into the alleged abduction of Professor Ganganath Dissanayake in a White Van, the OIC of the Kahathuduwa Police and Chief Inspector of the Colombo Crimes Division have in their evidence stated that so far they have been unable to identify the suspects in the incident and that the investigations in connection with the White Van was continuing although there is no sufficient evidence leading to the tracing of such a vehicle.

The release also states that an unidentified person who has been displeased by the printing of a certain book had called the Professor on his Tel No. 0773862412 saying that he (Professor) had been having a close relationship with the leadership of the UNP for a long period.

The caller had added "after ruining the UNP for a long time you are now back from Australia trying to destroy the party further". Thereafter he had threatened the Professor to leave all activities of the party. At the time the incident occurred the Professor had only just returned from Australia.

The statement also said:

"The Professor says the abductors had used Rs. 4,000 from the money that was in his possession to pump diesel to the White Van and also paid for the hoppers he was given for dinner. He has been driven blindfolded with a plaster strapped to his mouth and dropped at a lonely spot in Kirindiwela. His abductors have also told the Professor to leave the country immediately.

"The Colombo Crimes Division had obtained a statement from a UNP MP from Kurunegala since he had telephoned the MP a mere 15 seconds after the threatening call was received by the Professor.

"However since the Professor has returned to Australia the CCD has been unable to complete their inquiries but are pursuing the search of the suspects by coordinating with various divisions. Meanwhile the true situation with regard to the incident is yet to be unravelled.

"Since a group had abducted the professor, given him meals and spoken to him with regard and respect and since the Professor was requested to leave the country the inference is that the abduction could have been carried out by a group to force him out of political activities".