Only seven intel officers behind bars: Sagala

By Adeesha Ariyathileke - Matara 

According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), seven out of 20 intelligence officers have been sentenced to prison but not thousands as rumoured, Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake said yesterday. 

“A majority of the imprisoned intelligence officers have been released. They were taken into custody under the criminal law and not under any influence. We have at least 10,000 officers attached to intelligence services in the country. We have intelligence services in the government, police and the tri-forces. During the past decade, some of these personnel have been summoned to appear in court. Such probes have not been carried out by the government but by the CID. Hence, they are free from political inference,” he said.  

Meanwhile, it has been decided to hold Vesak celebrations in a grand scale and with police and tri-forces security following discussions with the Matara District Sasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya. “District and Divisional Secretariats have also pledged their support to this endeavour,” he said.