704 CID officers prevented from fleeing Sri Lanka

<p>Sri Lankan airport authorities have been sent a list of 704&nbsp; CID officers who the government is preventing from leaving the country.</p> <p>Ruwan Gunasekara, a spokesman for Sri Lanka’s police, told reporters that these CID officials were involved in numerous cases and that their presence was needed for the court proceedings.</p> <p>This follows the departure of top CID investigator, Nishantha de Silva, who was involved in investigating several high profile cases involving military and state personnel. Amongst the cases, he was involved in was the abduction of 11 youths, with 13 navy personnel arrested in connection with the case and senior navy officials pending investigation. He has also been investigating the death of a Tamil detainee in police custody, as well as the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.</p> <p>De Silva was reported to have left the country due to fears of Gotabaya’s election and had left without the permission of the Sri Lankan police.</p> <p><strong>Read more here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/top-organised-crime-investigator-…">Top organised crime investigator flees Sri Lanka</a></strong></p> <p>Speaking to reporters, Gunasekara further stated that ‘If they [CID officials] have received prior approval, it is alright. Otherwise, they will be held back. However, this is not a travel ban on them”.</p> <p>Read Daily Mirror reporting <a href="http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/704-CID-officers-barred-from-ov…">here</a>.</p>