Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Nuwan Wedasinghe has been transferred as the acting DIG, Western Province (North) with immediate effect.
Police Media Spokesman’s Office told the Daily News that DIG S.P Ranasinghe has been appointed as the acting DIG of the CID replacing Wedasinghe. Wedasinghe was appointed as the DIG in charge of the CID last December.
Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith expressed concerns over the investigations conducted by the CID in relation to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks last Saturday(3). The Cardinal expressed concern over the releasing of Riyaj Bathiudeen, the brother of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who was arrested in April on suspicion of involvement in the terrorist attacks and held under detention orders.
However, he was released by the CID due to lack of evidence against him. Archbishop Ranjith was concerned that while the Police had earlier said there was clear evidence against Riyaj Bathiudeen, CID investigators failed to provide sufficient evidence. In a special media briefing held on Saturday (3) at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo, the Cardinal said it is doubtful whether a “political deal” was behind the move.
The Cardinal expressed concern over the CID’s conduct and urged the authorities to properly carry out the investigations sans political motives.
