Police protection for Shani Abeysekara

• President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing for the petitioner told court that his client is satisfied with this arrangement

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda 

The Attorney General yesterday informed Court of Appeal that police protection will be provided to former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, taking into account the existing security threats. 

Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya appearing for the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses gave this undertaking when the writ petition filed by Shani Abeysekara seeking adequate security to him and his family was taken up before Court of Appeal.

In his writ petition, Shani Abeysekara had sought an order directing the police to provide the security to him and his family in compliance with the directives of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses.  ASG Abeysuriya informed Court that two armed policemen will be deployed for the security of former CID Director and an additional policeman to be deployed for the security of Shani Abeysekara’s residence.
President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing for the petitioner told court that his client is satisfied with this arrangement. However he said they will file contempt of court papers in the Supreme Court against the respondents if they failed to implement this undertaking that was given to the court.

The petitioner had named National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and several others as respondents.
The petitioner states that evidently he and his family is exposed to severe security threats, and the provision of a security of an unarmed police constable is clearly inadequate and does not suffice the required protection to the petitioner or his family. He further said these threats are existing as long as he is alive so these unidentified threats are lifetime life threats towards the petitioner. 

Shani Abeysekara states that the failure to comply with the requirement imposed by the Victims Protection Authority is an offence under the Section 14 (2) Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 4 of 2015 shall be guilty of an offence of contempt of the Authority. 

• Shani Abeysekara had sought an order directing the police to provide security to him and his family