UPDATE: Sri Lanka’s chief of defence staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who had been summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to give a statement today, has reportedly failed to do so as he has travelled overseas.

The former Navy Commander was called in for questioning regarding charges of aiding and abetting Lieutenant Commander Chandana Hettiarachchi, also known as ‘Navy Sampath’, the main suspect in the abduction, unlawful detention and murder of 11 youths in 2008 and 2009.

Ada Derana reliably learns that Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne had failed to appear at the CID today and that he had also requested for another date to provide a statement.

When contacted by Ada Derana, the Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne confirmed that the Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has left the country on official duty.

He had left for Mexico at around 3.15am today (10).

Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne was summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today (10) to record a statement regarding the abduction, illegal detention and murder of 11 youths in 2008 and 2009.

Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has recently been ordered in writing, to appear before the CID today, according to a spokesperson of the department.

Main suspect of the case Lieutenant Commander Chandana Hettiarachchi, also known as ‘Navy Sampath’, is currently remanded.

CID has informed the court, that there is clear evidence of Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne providing assistance to ‘Navy Sampath’ to abscond the court.

Considering the submissions, the court ordered the arrest of Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and to produce him before the court if he has provided assistance of any sort to ‘Navy Sampath’.

Accordingly, former Navy Commander and Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has been summoned to the CID to record a statement regarding the incident.