On My Beat: Police considering various moves to question Danuna Tilakaratne

The anticipatory bail application filed on behalf of Sarath Fonseka’s Arms dealer son-in-law Danuna Tilakaratne is to come up for hearing before the Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge tomorrow when the Sri Lankan police is expected to present their position.

That Danuna Tilakaratne will be charged under the Government Property Act was already disclosed by the police, and an offence charged under the said act is nonbailable.

But prior to filing charges against Danuna Tilakaratne, the police initially wanted to question him to ascertain whether he should be charged under the Government Property Act.

Earlier, according to a police spokesman Danuna Tilaharatne was asked to present himself to the police for questioning on the 1st of February, but he failed to show up. Instead he filed through his counsel an anticipatory bail application in the courts and also got himself admitted in a private hospital at Narehenpita, Colombo.

The police sources said that they wanted to give an opportunity for Danuna Tilakaratne before considering whether he should be charged under any law and to ascertain whether he has violated any law for charging him in any court of law.

It is now learnt the police may present their case to the courts and emphasize their position that he should be interrogated and his statement recorded.

In another option they might also present the detention order signed by the Defence Secretary under Emergency Regulations to take into custody Danuna Tilakaratne to question and charge him in the appropriate courts if the police found ample grounds to do so.

In the meantime Asian Tribune learnt that the Retired Major General Upali Edirisinghe has been taken into police custody.

Major General Upali Edirisinghe was earlier the Commandant of the Commando Regiment and retired from service in 2008.

He was the confidante of the Retired General Sarath Fonseka and according to information he was to be made the Additional Secretary of Defence in case Sarath Fonseka would have won the Sri Lanka’s Presidental election.

According to Police sources he was arrested to question the alleged conspiracy to topple the government and the attempt to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family.

- Asian Tribune -