The Court of Appeal, presided over by Judges Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne and Vikum Kaluarachchi, issued an order today (14) directing security authorities to immediately provide adequate protection to Shani Abeysekera, the former director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The order was made in response to a writ petition filed by Shani Abeysekera, seeking protection for his life. Last year, the Attorney General disclosed information from intelligence agencies indicating a conspiracy to assassinate Abeysekera. The intelligence suggested a plot to kill him while traveling on the highway.
Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, representing the Attorney General, confirmed the conspiracy during the court proceedings. The court had previously instructed the Victim and Witness Protection Authority to provide a report detailing the nature of the threats against Shani Abeysekera.
Shani Abeysekera’s lawyer, Upul Jayasuriya, expressed dissatisfaction with the security measures provided, citing the deployment of only an old motorcycle and three police officers. He further alleged that despite an order from the Victim and Witness Protection Authority to the Inspector General of Police for adequate protection, it had not been fulfilled.
In response to these concerns, the Court of Appeal ordered the government to ensure the defense of Shani Abeysekera and called for the case to be heard today (14).
