Sri Lankan Police Inspector Flees Citing Personal Safety & Death Threats

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police have launched an internal investigation concerning Duminda Jayathilake, the OIC of the Organized Crime Investigation Division within the Colombo Crimed Division. Jayathilaka left the country, citing threats to his safety as the reason for his departure. 

Duminda Jayathilake, who served as the OIC of the Organized Crime Investigation Division within the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), addressed the media regarding his recent departure. 

"In recent times, I was able to arrest all the suspects linked to all the murders that took place in Colombo. During the course of the investigations, underworld gangs were nabbed, and at the same time, death threats were made to me, my wife, and daughter. Despite these threats, I continued to perform my duties. When I left Sri Lanka on the 14th, I had completed the investigations into the poisoning of two suspects at the Woulfendhal Station Police. I left the country due to the growing number of threats, and I realized there was no safety for me in the country. The situation was such that my family was losing freedom to survive. I took my family out of my official residence, and placed them in hiding. This was because their lives were under serious threat. I request that their protection be secured so that their lives are not harmed," he said in a statement.

According to official sources, Police Inspector Duminda Jayathilaka has been granted leave from February 14 to March 6. 

Sri Lanka Police said that as a precautionary measure, Inspector Jayathilaka was provided with a service pistol for personal safety during his time away from duty. However, upon commencing his leave, he returned the firearm to the police authorities.

DIG Nihal Thalduwa (Attorney-at-Law), the Police Spokesperson said that the Inspector had applied for personal leave, and leave on no-pay. 

"He had gone overseas using the leave that he applied for. The information has come to light after he went overseas, and after it was released on social media. A letter and several recordings have been released. A video of the officer in question was also published. An investigation is on going. The officer in question had not made any indication during his time as the Colombo Crimes Division over such threats. The Colombo Crimes Division said there was no report of anyone threatening him, or incidents of threats made against him," he noted.