Two retired female petty officers of the Sri Lanka Navy have been remanded until October 5 in connection with an investigation into the alleged abduction and disappearance of two women in Trincomalee in 2008.
The Trincomalee Chief Magistrate ordered the suspects to be remanded and directed that they be produced for an identification parade on October 5.
The investigation concerns Sasikumar Thenmoli and Mary Delsia, residents of the Paalaiyootru area in Trincomalee, who were allegedly abducted on or around May 13, 2008 and subsequently disappeared.
CID allegations presented to court
According to reports of the court proceedings, the Criminal Investigation Department told court that information uncovered during the investigation indicated that the two missing women had allegedly been detained at an underground location known as the “Gun Site” within the Trincomalee Naval Base.
The two suspects were serving in the Navy at the relevant time.
The suspects were arrested when they appeared before the CID in connection with another court matter.
Investigation continues
The remand order is not a finding that either suspect committed the alleged offences.
Claims concerning detention at the “Gun Site”, the alleged roles of individual officers and the circumstances of the women's disappearance remain matters under investigation and adjudication.
Sineth News should therefore distinguish the CID's allegations presented to court from facts established by a final judicial determination.