Former DIG Vass Gunawardena has been named by the Attorney General as one of the suspects in the Nipuna Ramanayake assault case.

Ramanayake, a 21-year-old student of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) at Malabe was abducted and allegedly assaulted on August 09, 2009 by the son and wife of then SSP Vaas Gunawardena along with 11 other policemen.

Ravindu Gunawardena, son of former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, was arrested for not appearing before the court on the assault case.

It is alleged that the student was abducted at gunpoint and assaulted for several hours, over a personal feud, by Ravindu and a group of police officers.

Colombo Additional Magistrate, Mohamed Sahabdeen informed court of the AG’s decision when the case pertaining to the murder of Bambalapitiya-based businessman Mohamed Siyam was taken up today.

Seven suspects including the sacked Deputy Inspector General (DIG) were produced before the court over the murder.

All seven suspects were ordered further remanded until October 21 by the Additional Magistrate.

While 9 suspects are accused over the murder two of them have agreed to become state witnesses. Therefore court decided to release them on conditions.  

Meanwhile the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) submitting a complaint to the Magistrate stated that witnesses of the plaintiff’s side are being intimidated by the defendants.

The Magistrate then advised the suspects to refrain from threatening or intimidating any witnesses and assured that necessary action would be taken if the situation continues.