Team under ex-head of intelligence was behind Lasantha’s murder

A team functioned under former Director of the State Intelligence was behind the assassination of newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Court on Monday.

The CID had made this revelation based on the statement obtained from former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

The CID officials told the Mt. Lavina Magistrate’s Court this group under ex-Director Major General Kapila Hendawitharana has functioned as a dedicated team to carry out attacks against journalists and media organizations as well.

According to the CID, details on five SIM cards used by the members of this team have also been disclosed.

The investigations have too found the involvement of this team in connection with assaulting incidents on journalists Keith Noyahr and Upali Tennakoon, the CID said.

A CID officer also informed the Court that a statement was recorded from former Army Commander and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka. According to him, Fonseka in his statement has said that it was retired Major General Ajith Perera who handled situations in Colombo and suburbs that time, and Fonseka has accused Perera of failing to carry out his professional duties.

It was also disclosed a sharp object had been used to assassinate Wickrematunge as suggested by the second post-mortem examination carried out recently, the Court was told.