Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda yesterday, over the alleged transfer of a firearm to an underworld drug kingpin.
According to Newswire, the firearm which was reportedly issued to the paramilitary leader by the Sri Lankan army in 2001, was later found in the possession of drug kingpin Makandure Madush. Madush was killed in 2020 during a police shootout when he had taken police officers to a housing complex to recover a stock of heroin.
The CID have obtained an order which allows them to detain Devananda for 72 hours for further questioning.
Devananda is the head of the notorious EPDP, a paramilitary organisation that was armed and backed by the Sri Lankan state during the armed conflict.
Throughout the conflict, the EPDP carried out a series of war crimes and human rights abuses, including running child trafficking rings, abductions and murders.
Devananda was a close ally of the Rajapaksa regime and was rewarded with various ministerial posts throughout the years.
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
Please use below email to contact us:
Loading comments…