By Anubhavananda
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(Lanka-e-News -09.May.2026, 11 pm ) In connection with the abduction of eleven children during the years 2008–2009, former Navy Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Ravindra Wijegunaratne was summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on November 27, 2018 for questioning over allegations that he had provided protection inside a naval residence to suspect Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, who had been evading court proceedings, and had also assisted him in escaping the country to avoid the law.
Following the questioning, Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake decided to remand him in custody after he was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. On December 5, 2018, the Magistrate also decided to release Ravindra Wijegunaratne on bail. He was named as the second suspect in the case concerning the abduction of eleven children. He was the twentieth Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
Rajapaksa loyalists reacted with severe “war hero syndrome” to these investigations carried out during the Yahapalana government period. Their outrage became so extreme that even then-President Maithripala Sirisena, a political turncoat, began speaking of a “witch hunt against war heroes.” It is an open secret that he directly intervened to sabotage those investigations.
With the victory of “war hero” Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the November 2019 presidential election, accused criminals, including Wasantha Karannagoda and Ravindra Wijegunaratne entered a new era of “here we go again, back to playtime.” Officers of the CID, including Shani Abeysekara, who had investigated crimes involving Rajapaksa loyalists, were illegally arrested and detained. Other officers were forced to secretly flee abroad to save their lives.
Through the so-called “Mad Cat” Commission appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, an operation was launched to absolve Rajapaksa loyalists accused of crimes. After assuming power on July 21, 2022, with the support of the Galle Face protest movement, President Ranil Rajapaksa’s primary responsibility was also to protect and nurture the Rajapaksa family and their loyalists.
Under that project, Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the second suspect in the abduction of eleven children, was appointed Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Pakistan. However, the main obstacle to this project was the fact that the former Navy Commander remained the second suspect in a criminal case.
The strategy employed was to remove Ravindra Wijegunaratne’s status as a suspect in the case. Since it was the Attorney General who had named him as a suspect, only the Attorney General had the power to reverse that decision.
To facilitate the ambassadorial appointment of the Rajapaksa loyalist, then Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam instructed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, where the case was being heard, to release Ravindra Wijegunaratne from the proceedings. The Magistrate at the time was the notorious Thilina Gamage. He immediately complied with the Attorney General’s instructions and released Ravindra Wijegunaratne from the case.
Less than forty-eight hours after issuing that order, Ravindra Wijegunaratne was officially named Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Pakistan. Such “deals” between the government and the judiciary were common throughout that period.
The Attorney General instructs magistrates to remove suspects, and magistrates obediently carry out those instructions as though the Attorney General were their master.
Mocking the victims in the eleven-child abduction case, Ravindra Wijegunaratne assumed duties as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Pakistan. The Attorney General’s decision to release the second suspect despite clear evidence against him was a heinous crime.
The parents of the disappeared children and their lawyer Achala Seneviratne appealed to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam and Magistrate Thilina Gamage to reconsider the decision, but all such efforts were futile.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Rajaratnam’s term as Attorney General ended, and President Ranil Rajapaksa selected Parinda Ranasinghe Jr., a loyal and obedient figure, for the position. Although there were seniors with stronger professional qualifications, President Ranil Rajapaksa chose him to continue the usual “deal-making” in the administration of justice. His father, who had served as Chief Justice, was also notorious for supporting the then-UNP government.
In November 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake became Executive President, ending more than seven decades of elite politics. The subsequent general election granted the Compass government a two-thirds majority through a massive political shift. Yet the Attorney General remained Parinda Ranasinghe Jr.
The Attorney General is the government’s chief legal adviser, responsible for appearing in court on behalf of the state, filing criminal cases, and safeguarding the rule of law. The Compass government came to power promising a society where justice would be delivered fairly to all.
For over a decade, the parents of the eleven disappeared children had continued their struggle for justice and hoped that the new Compass government would finally provide it. They requested Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jr. to withdraw the decision removing former Navy Commander Ravindra Wijegunaratne as the second suspect in their children’s disappearance case.
He rejected the request and firmly stated that he would never reverse former Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam’s decision. That was the voice of his masters — the Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe camp.
The parents also met Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara to explain the unfortunate situation. Harshana dodged the issue in his usual “Nanayakkara manner.” The parents returned home remembering the virtues of Ms. Yasapalitha Nanayakkara.
The final option available to the parents of the disappeared children and their lawyer, Achala Seneviratne was to once again petition the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court regarding the injustice done to them.
Fortunately for them, and for all Sri Lankans hoping for justice and fairness, the Colombo Fort Magistrate at that time was Isuru Neththikumara. He was not the type of cowardly signal-post judge who raises his hand and accepts every instruction from the Attorney General.
On April 29, he delivered his ruling on the petition. According to the ruling, the court ordered the CID to name former Navy Commander Ravindra Wijegunaratne as a suspect in the abduction and disappearance of eleven youths.
In his historic ruling, Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara pointed out that the earlier decision by former Magistrate Thilina Gamage had been wrong. He stated that where clear evidence exists, the request of the victimized party cannot be rejected. Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara declared:
“A magistrate is not bound to follow the instructions of the Attorney General. The Attorney General bears a great responsibility in ensuring justice. Releasing a suspect based on the Attorney General’s instructions despite the existence of evidence is flawed.”
Accordingly, the court instructed that a new charge sheet be prepared against former Navy Commander Ravindra Wijegunaratne and presented before the court on June 10. The Magistrate also emphasized at length the Attorney General’s responsibility to intervene in ensuring justice. There Appears to be Sufficient Evidence Against the Former Navy Commander…
Through this historic judgment, the grave injustice committed by the notorious judge Thilina Gamage has now been corrected.
“Where clear evidence has been presented, the request of the aggrieved party cannot be rejected. There appears to be sufficient evidence against the suspect. Instructing that he be released despite such evidence amounts to a denial of justice.
In a non-summary inquiry, the Attorney General has no authority to release a suspect. The Attorney General issues instructions to the CID. Once the CID presents those facts before the magistrate, the magistrate examines them and issues an appropriate order according to his discretion.
A magistrate is not bound to follow the Attorney General’s instructions. The Attorney General bears significant responsibility in ensuring justice. Releasing a suspect based on the Attorney General’s instructions despite evidence is wrong.”
Accordingly, a new charge sheet is to be prepared regarding the allegations presented, and the complaint is scheduled to be presented in court on June 10. The court expects the Attorney General to cooperate in the future proceedings.
We believe that this historic ruling by Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara should be framed and displayed in the offices of the Attorney General, as well as many magistrates in this country. The ruling clearly demonstrates that magistrates should not be a group of cowards who mechanically carry out every instruction or order from the Attorney General.
The parents of the eleven abducted children and their lawyer Achala Seneviratne won the battle to once again name Ravindra Wijegunaratne as a suspect after a long struggle.
However, the Malima government played no role in that victory. It must be noted that both Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jr. and Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stood with Rajapaksa's favorite Ravindra Wijegunaratne during this struggle.
We have previously expressed support several times for the struggle carried out by the parents of the eleven children who were abducted and murdered, and by lawyer Achala Seneviratne, who demands justice for them.
Even at this moment, we continue to hold their hands and remain hopeful.
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by (2026-05-09 19:45:09)
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