Allegations of CID Cover-Up in Lasantha Wickramatunga's Murder Investigation: Ravi Seneviratne Under Scrutiny

New revelations regarding the 2009 murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga, the editor-in-chief of the Sunday Leader, have sparked fresh controversy. Investigative journalist Sri Lal Priyantha has claimed to possess secret documents linking several senior officials to attempts to conceal evidence related to the high-profile murder. Among the accused is Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne, the current Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and former head of the CID.

The allegations, presented by Sri Lal Priyantha on his YouTube channel Eethala News, suggest that Ravi Seneviratne was complicit in suppressing critical evidence surrounding the murder, which was allegedly tied to a large-scale corruption scandal involving the MiG aircraft deal. According to Priyantha, the sale of MiG jets to Sri Lanka, orchestrated by then-Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former Ambassador to Ukraine Udayanga Weeratunga, was exposed by Wickramatunga's Sunday Leader. The journalist's revelations allegedly placed him in grave danger, leading to his assassination.

In addition to Seneviratne, several police officers under his leadership, including Prasanna Alwis and Nimal Chandra Wakishta, have been accused of misconduct during the investigation. Priyantha highlights the role of these officers in trying to fabricate evidence implicating Sarath Fonseka, the former Army Commander and presidential candidate, in Wickramatunga's murder.

A particularly troubling allegation centers around a statement from military officer Kandegedara Piyawantha, who, in 2011, claimed that Prasanna Alwis, OIC of the Terrorism Investigation Division, pressured him to falsely accuse Fonseka of the crime. Piyawantha was allegedly promised shelter for his family in a foreign country if he cooperated. Priyantha insists that such actions violated legal procedures and warrants a thorough investigation.

Despite a 2015 revival of the case under the Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe government, with new officers like Nalaka Silva at the helm, Seneviratne's handling of the investigation has raised red flags. Priyantha's investigation reveals that Seneviratne downplayed the accusations against Alwis, claiming insufficient evidence to take disciplinary action.

Priyantha asserts that the cover-up was orchestrated to protect influential figures within the police and political establishment, specifically those loyal to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He demands that the government initiate a full inquiry into the allegations and bring the true perpetrators of the crime to justice.

The murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga remains a deeply contentious issue, and these new revelations threaten to unravel further layers of corruption and abuse of power within the police force. Sri Lal Priyantha's call for transparency and accountability underscores the ongoing struggle for justice in a case that continues to haunt Sri Lanka’s political landscape.

For further details, watch Sri Lal Priyantha’s full video here