Key Files In ‘White Van’ Probe Stolen

Important files related to the investigations on the ‘white van’ abductions have been stolen from the Trincomalee navy camp. The files were connected to Lieutenant Commodore K. C. Welagedara, a key witness on the ‘white van’ abductions said to have been committed when Mahinda Rajapaksa was President. The files, which were stored at the Trincomalee navy camp, had been stolen on March 29, sources said.

Among the files stolen are documents related to politicians and Navy officers involved in abductions, human smuggling and weapons smuggling. Our sister newspaper Irudina had reported earlier how K. C. Welagedara was facing pressure from the Navy after he gave evidence to the Criminal Investigations Department on human smuggling. Welagedara also faced a court martial on the charge of going overseas without informing the Navy command and for bringing disrepute to the Navy. He was demoted but the demotion was suspended by President Maithripala Sirisena. Last month this newspaper reported that K. C. Welagedara, who is now under Navy detention, is facing death threats, but Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne had said he is unaware of those claims. He had also said that family members of K. C. Welagedara can visit him at the Navy headquarters where he is being detained and that he can file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission if he has any concerns.