The parents of the youths who went missing in 2008 today filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal seeking an order quashing the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda in the Colombo High Court.
The petitioners state that the decision to withdraw the indictments against the former Navy Commander is unreasonable, bias, illegal, unlawful and politically motivated with an intention to gain undue advantage and against the rules of natural justice.
The petitioners state that five persons, including Rajiv Naganathan, Vishwanathan Pradeep, Mohammed Dilan, Mohammed Sajith went missing on or around 17th September 2008, where the Petitioners complained to the Police and the Human Rights Commission relating to the disappearances.
The petitioners state that during the investigations of the Criminal Investigation Division in respect of another crime, it was divulged, that there is a direct connection with the above disappearances and some navy personnel, including former Navy Commander.
The petitioners said according to CID investigations, some persons including the above victims were abducted and illegally detained in a cell called “Pittu Bambuwa” situated near the Colombo port.
The petitioners further said the victims were detained, in an illegal prison called “GUN SITE” situated in Sri Lanka Naval and Marine Science Faculty premises of Trincomalee, which was under the direct control of the former Navy Commander.
The petitioners state that decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment served on the former Navy Commander is a clear abuse of discretionary powers granted by law and liable to be rectified by orders of this Court for Administration of Justice.
The Petitioners state that Rear Admiral Travis Sinnaiya has stated during the investigation saying that even though he was in charge of Sri Lanka Naval and Marine Science Faculty premises, the former Navy Commander gave him orders not to interfere with the affairs of the premises called “GUN SITE” where the former Navy Commander had the direct control over the affairs of the said premises.
