Former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne has admitted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that “Gun Site”, an underground torture facility located within the Trincomalee naval base, was an unlawful detention centre.
The CID, citing testimony from Ulugetenne and corroborating witnesses, revealed that as many as 60 people, including two foreign nationals, were held at the illegal site. The detainees are believed to include victims of abduction and enforced disappearance carried out during Sri Lankan security forces, according to a report from Virakesari.
The CID has been investigating the disappearance of 11 people, including five students, who were abducted in Colombo and surrounding areas. These inquiries led to the discovery of “Gun Site” and evidence linking it to the disappearance of individuals such as Santha Samarawickrama, also known as “Kegalle Santha”, and Pradeep from Ibbagamuwa.
Police had previously claimed that Kegalle Santha escaped custody in July 2010 while receiving hospital treatment. The investigation, however, found that he was secretly transferred to “Gun Site” with the assistance of naval personnel and later disappeared. Witnesses told the CID that he was held at the site for six months.
So far, five police officers, including the then OIC of Alawwa Police Crimes Division, and five naval personnel, including “Gun Site” camp commander Ranasinghe, have been arrested. Ulugetenne himself was arrested on 28 July.
From October 2010 to 2013, Ulugetenne served as Director of Naval Intelligence. He told investigators that soon after taking up the post, he visited “Gun Site” with written authorisation from then Navy Commander Somathilaka Dissanayake and found 40 to 60 detainees. He admitted the camp was not a registered prison but an unlawful detention centre.
The CID told the court he is being charged under sections 356, 141, 296, 32, and 47 of the Penal Code for abduction, unlawful imprisonment, membership of an illegal organisation, murder, and complicity in murder. Testimony also implicated former Navy Commander Somathilaka Dissanayake and then Eastern Naval Commander Kolambage, who are now under CID investigation.
Ulugetenne revealed that “Gun Site” was operated by a “Special Intelligence Unit” that did not fall under naval intelligence command, led by Commander D.K.P. Dasanayake. He said he disbanded the unit, which included naval personnel identified as Ranasinghe, Podi Kumar, Logu Kumar, Ratnayake, Chandamali, and Kaushalya.
Former LTTE intelligence chief “Barathi” and naval officer Vijegon testified that two foreign nationals were among those held at “Gun Site.” Further investigations into their cases are ongoing.
Navy intimidation continues
The CID also informed court that naval intelligence officers had been following and intimidating its investigators. Chief Inspector Ilangasinghe, Sub-Inspector Namal, and Sergeant Rajapaksha were reportedly tailed after visiting witnesses. In one instance, a couple now residing in Switzerland, identified as Karan and Sareetha, had their relatives questioned by naval officers shortly after being contacted by the CID.
When questioned, the naval personnel admitted they had acted on orders from Lieutenant Commander Rupasinghe, head of naval intelligence in Kankesanthurai, who conceded that the decision had been his own. Rupasinghe was present in court when Ulugetenne’s case was heard on 30 July.
Ulugetenne remains in remand custody. The magistrate has ordered the CID to submit an update on the investigation by 24 August.
