Guard who witnessed museum theft Released by abductors

l by Azra Ameen

(03 July, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Stanley Liyanage a witness of the museum theft who was abducted by an unidentified gang was released yesterday (2) early morning at the Gadaladeniya junction, executive committee member of the Activists for Human Rights, Udul Premaratna, said.

Addressing a press conference, executive committee member of the Activists for Human Rights, Udul Premaratna, said Stanley Liyanage, a security officer at the John de Silva Auditorium was abducted by an unidentified gang who came in a three wheeler on 12 May. He was reported to be missing from 2.15 p.m in the afternoon from Fort.

“He is currently receiving treatment at the Kandy hospital. He was beaten and sustained severe injuries. He was questioned by the police after the museum theft. It is after the questioning that this incident took place,” he said.

Premaratna said that when he spoke to Stanley who is currently receiving treatment at the hospital he said that he recalls one I.P Gunasekara who has continuously questioned him about the theft. He also claimed that a detail bill and finger print was also taken by him.

“Stanley also said two unidentified men with police identification had abducted him and transported him into another van and he was held hostage for nearly three weeks. Due to his eyes being tied during those three weeks, he is now suffering with severe pains,” he said.

In a call to Stanley, he recalled of an incident where one of his friend Navaratna, a security officer of Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya had told him that two of his other friends will be visiting John de Silva Auditorium to watch a drama but didn’t turn up. Once he was abducted he claimed that he was questioned as to who those two other men were and he was also forced to admit that he robbed the museum.

He was also threatened not to tell what actually happened to anyone other wise his daughter and brother in law will also have to undergo the same situation faced by him, Premaratna said.

Premaratna also said that if the police are able to arrest and investigate on other gruesome incidents that have taken place, why are they failing to find the culprits behind this theft other than trying to blame others for it?

According to another executive committee member of the Activists for Human Rights, Nuwan Bopage we have written to the human rights commission and complained to the Police but no action is still taken in this regard. Even the CID is not paying much attention to this.

“So we request the Police to give full security to this security officer who is still threatened and to his family who need security,” he said.