CID official investigating navy abductions and high profile cases handed transfer order

A police official responsible for the investigation of the abduction and murder of 11 Tamil youths by Sri Lankan navy personnel has been handed transfer orders, Sri Lankan journalists have reported.

Nishantha Silva, officer in charge of the organised crimes division at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was given a transfer order to ordinary duties in Negombo, reportedly on the orders of the Sri Lankan president.

Silva was the chief investigator in the navy abduction case, as well as many other high profile cases such as the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickramasinghe, assault of journalist Keith Noyahr and the rape and murder of Tamil school student Vithya Sivaloganathan.

Investigations into the Sri Lankan navy’s abduction and murder of 11 Tamil youths led to the arrest of several navy personnel, and the implication of of current Chief of Defence Staff Ravindra Wijegunaratne.

Silva was also the key officer behind the questioning of Gotabaya Rajapaksa on corruption charges.