Former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) W. Tillakaratne was arrested on Monday (9) by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in connection with the alleged illegal imposition of overseas travel bans on 704 CID officers in 2019.
Investigations reportedly relate to a decision taken during his tenure as CID Director to impose foreign travel restrictions on CID personnel without obtaining a court order. Under Sri Lankan law, overseas travel bans can only be enforced through judicial authorization.
During questioning, Tillakaratne reportedly told investigators that while he imposed the ban, he was unaware of the legal basis for doing so.
Police had informed the court that 11 statements were recorded, revealing that several officers became victims due to these restrictions and during the hearing, the Magistrate had questioned whether these travel bans originated from a court order, to which the police had clarified that no such judicial authorization existed.
However, former Acting IGP C. D. Wickramaratne has denied issuing any such directive, stating that even if such an order had been given, it would have been unlawful and could have been disregarded.
The travel ban was reportedly imposed following the departure of senior CID officer Nishantha Silva from the country in late 2019, shortly after Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) assumed office as President.
Further investigations are ongoing.
Tillakaratne was released on a Rs. 1 million personal bail by Fort Magistrate Isuru Netthikumara on Monday (9).
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