Senior Police officer’s deadly nexus with LTTE
Investigations reveal LTTE gave Rs.15 million to SP for Minister Fernandopulle’s assassination
As this column mentioned previously, traitors were behind former Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle’s assassination.
SP Lakshman Cooray had allegedly received Rs. 15 million to transport a Tiger suicide bomber to Weliveriya in April 2008, the place where former Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated.
On the morning of August 12, officers from Sri Lanka’s prime investigative unit, the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) entered the Gampaha Police Station and walked into the Senior Superintendent’s office. They had a friendly chat with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarath Kumara. While engaged in this apparent cordial conversation, the TID sleuths told SSP Kumara that they wanted to meet Gampaha Sector 3 Superintendent of Police (SP) Lakshman Cooray.
Gampaha District is divided into three Police sectors. Sector three includes the areas of Weliweriya, Weeangula and Ganemulla. SSP Kumara summoned SP Cooray into his office.
SP Lakshman Cooray had allegedly received Rs. 15 million to transport a Tiger suicide bomber to Weliveriya in April 2008, the place where former Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated.
On the morning of August 12, officers from Sri Lanka’s prime investigative unit, the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) entered the Gampaha Police Station and walked into the Senior Superintendent’s office. They had a friendly chat with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarath Kumara. While engaged in this apparent cordial conversation, the TID sleuths told SSP Kumara that they wanted to meet Gampaha Sector 3 Superintendent of Police (SP) Lakshman Cooray.
Gampaha District is divided into three Police sectors. Sector three includes the areas of Weliweriya, Weeangula and Ganemulla. SSP Kumara summoned SP Cooray into his office.
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When SP Lakshman Cooray entered the SSP’s office, the TID investigators confronted him and told him that he was being arrested on information received that he had direct connections with the LTTE.
Following the arrest, the TID sleuths took SP Cooray to the TID head office, and began questioning him on his LTTE connections. Though at the beginning he denied any involvement with the Tigers, the TID officers made him aware that they already possessed enough information to prove his connections with the banned terrorist organisation. Later, SP Lakshman Cooray had begun to divulge some shocking details of his involvement with the Tigers.
This columnist, respecting responsible journalism, refrains from divulging further details of how TID officers received credible information of SP Lakshman Cooray’s involvement with LTTE, as this may hamper further investigations.
He had served in several parts of the island including Jaffna, and his last posting had been in Gampaha. Who would have ever believed that a senior officer in the Police would have been involved as an informant and as a carrier for the LTTE?
This person, interrogators revealed, has had direct contacts with the LTTE. SP Cooray had allegedly received Rs. 15 million to transport a Tiger suicide bomber to Weliveriya in April 2008, the place where former Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated. A bomber transported by a senior police officer towards his own division would have never roused the suspicions of his colleagues. Anyone stepping out of the senior officer’s vehicle would definitely not be considered as a suspected suicide bomber.
Following the arrest, the TID sleuths took SP Cooray to the TID head office, and began questioning him on his LTTE connections. Though at the beginning he denied any involvement with the Tigers, the TID officers made him aware that they already possessed enough information to prove his connections with the banned terrorist organisation. Later, SP Lakshman Cooray had begun to divulge some shocking details of his involvement with the Tigers.
This columnist, respecting responsible journalism, refrains from divulging further details of how TID officers received credible information of SP Lakshman Cooray’s involvement with LTTE, as this may hamper further investigations.
He had served in several parts of the island including Jaffna, and his last posting had been in Gampaha. Who would have ever believed that a senior officer in the Police would have been involved as an informant and as a carrier for the LTTE?
This person, interrogators revealed, has had direct contacts with the LTTE. SP Cooray had allegedly received Rs. 15 million to transport a Tiger suicide bomber to Weliveriya in April 2008, the place where former Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated. A bomber transported by a senior police officer towards his own division would have never roused the suspicions of his colleagues. Anyone stepping out of the senior officer’s vehicle would definitely not be considered as a suspected suicide bomber.
Story behind the SP |
| Superintendent of Police Lakshman Cooray hails from Polonnaruwa. His father was a Provincial Council member of the ruling party. Lakshman was educated at Polonnaruwa and on completion of his school education, he had obtained his external Bachelor of Arts (BA) following which he had enlisted with the Sri Lanka Police Department as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). When a person is found to be a traitor to his country, the normal procedure is to try him or her for treason, and if proved, sentenced to death. Section 114 of the constitution notes that waging war or attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war, shall be punished with death or imprisonment of either description, which may be to the extent of 20 years, and shall forfeit all his property to the public. Earlier too this column exposed another traitor from the Sri Lanka Army, Captain Piyasiri Perera. A sentence of death was imposed on him after a court marshal. The date and time of any death penalty imposed by the judiciary or military has to be sanctioned by the President. But in Captain Perera’s case, the President commuted the death sentence to a life sentence. Earlier, this column also disclosed the involvement of Lieutenant Colonel Ranjith Perera with the LTTE. The sole intention of this column is to expose such corrupt personnel to the public. If the public is aware of further information on these persons or of such other persons, it is their duty towards the country to inform the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) or the Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) or the Sri Lanka Army. |
Initial suspicious signs
When analysts went through the video images obtained of the scene during and after the suicide bomb explosion which killed former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, SP Cooray has been visible in the footages, standing well away on the opposite side of the road from where the blast occurred, apparently making sure to keep himself far from harms way.
This particular suicide blast on April 6, 2008 during the start off of a marathon race to celebrate the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, claimed the life of a popular Minister in the government, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 14 others, including Sri Lanka’s marathon champion and Olympic participant K.A. Karunaratne, National Athletic Coach Lakshman Alwis and Minister Fernandopulle’s personal security officer – Chief Inspector K.D.R. Kannangara. It also injured over 90 other persons. Gampaha Division Senior Superintendent of Police Hector Dharmasiri too was critically injured in this incident.
Immediately following the explosion, SP Cooray had not shown any visible signs to raise any suspicions. He had returned to his station, possibly to await further instructions regarding his next mission. After all, traitors do not regret their missions, they are only concerned about the financial benefits their missions bring in.
When analysts went through the video images obtained of the scene during and after the suicide bomb explosion which killed former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, SP Cooray has been visible in the footages, standing well away on the opposite side of the road from where the blast occurred, apparently making sure to keep himself far from harms way.
This particular suicide blast on April 6, 2008 during the start off of a marathon race to celebrate the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, claimed the life of a popular Minister in the government, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 14 others, including Sri Lanka’s marathon champion and Olympic participant K.A. Karunaratne, National Athletic Coach Lakshman Alwis and Minister Fernandopulle’s personal security officer – Chief Inspector K.D.R. Kannangara. It also injured over 90 other persons. Gampaha Division Senior Superintendent of Police Hector Dharmasiri too was critically injured in this incident.
Immediately following the explosion, SP Cooray had not shown any visible signs to raise any suspicions. He had returned to his station, possibly to await further instructions regarding his next mission. After all, traitors do not regret their missions, they are only concerned about the financial benefits their missions bring in.
Lakshman’s not so unusual cravings, preachings
A Police officer from the Gampaha Division told this columnist that SP Cooray’s fancy was purchasing whatever latest model of mobile phones hit the market. And he said that Cooray always, like a preacher, would tell his colleagues that they have to be honest in their dealings, love their jobs and always be faithful in their duties. He also enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle.
It is also reported that this multi-millionaire SP had never deposited any of his ill gotten gains with banks. Instead, he had been a regular visitor to several financial companies, and it is suspected that he may have deposited all his millions with such financial institutions, including those that were deemed illegal.
A Police officer from the Gampaha Division told this columnist that SP Cooray’s fancy was purchasing whatever latest model of mobile phones hit the market. And he said that Cooray always, like a preacher, would tell his colleagues that they have to be honest in their dealings, love their jobs and always be faithful in their duties. He also enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle.
It is also reported that this multi-millionaire SP had never deposited any of his ill gotten gains with banks. Instead, he had been a regular visitor to several financial companies, and it is suspected that he may have deposited all his millions with such financial institutions, including those that were deemed illegal.
Attempts on President’s life
Even after his alleged complicity in the assassination of former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Cooray had not stopped his alleged connections with the LTTE. He had allegedly assisted in at least three attempts to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa at three different locations, utilising claymore mines as well as suicide bombers.
Even after his alleged complicity in the assassination of former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Cooray had not stopped his alleged connections with the LTTE. He had allegedly assisted in at least three attempts to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa at three different locations, utilising claymore mines as well as suicide bombers.
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One such attempt had been at the President’s home town of Tangalle. The second had been at Kurunegala during the last Wayamba Provincial Council elections and the third such failed attempt had been in Badulla. All these attempts had been unsuccessful as the security provided by the President’s Security Division had been too tight for penetration.
If the LTTE had paid Rs. 15 million for Cooray’s alleged complicity in the assassination of former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, he would have been offered almost thrice or more of that sum for the attempt on the President’s life.
Lakshman Cooray is said to have participated at several defence briefings, details of which he apparently had leaked to the Tigers. He is said to have kept in close contact with the LTTE via telephone and other modes of communication.
If the LTTE had paid Rs. 15 million for Cooray’s alleged complicity in the assassination of former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, he would have been offered almost thrice or more of that sum for the attempt on the President’s life.
Lakshman Cooray is said to have participated at several defence briefings, details of which he apparently had leaked to the Tigers. He is said to have kept in close contact with the LTTE via telephone and other modes of communication.
SP Lakshman’s other side of service
During the year 2005, Lakshman Cooray had been stationed as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jaffna. He was in Sector three, which includes Manipay, Chunnakam, Telippalai and Innuvil. It was apparently while serving in this area, that the LTTE had approached and absorbed this officer to the terrorist outfit’s benefit. During this stint of service too, Cooray has apparently passed sensitive information to the Tigers.
In August 2005, there had been unrest in the Jaffna area, seemingly among the civilians. They vented their fury on the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Police through mob violence. During the afternoon of August 4, 2005, there was a massive ‘civilian’ protest at Innuvil. When the protestors had become restless and resorted to mob violence, Superintendent of Police for Jaffna, Charles Wijewardena, on receipt of orders to try to defuse the situation, had arrived at the scene. He was accompanied by several Police officers and constables.
When SP Wijewardena arrived at Innuvil, the protestors had said they were willing to talk to the Police. Some of them had approached SP Wijewardena and said they wanted to talk with him.
They had requested him to come to a nearby house alone and unarmed. A firm believer in negotiation and persuasion, the SP had obliged and gone to the house even without taking his walkie-talkie with him. However, details have not been clear after his entry into the house. It was the last time any of his colleagues saw SP Wijewardena alive.
During the year 2005, Lakshman Cooray had been stationed as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jaffna. He was in Sector three, which includes Manipay, Chunnakam, Telippalai and Innuvil. It was apparently while serving in this area, that the LTTE had approached and absorbed this officer to the terrorist outfit’s benefit. During this stint of service too, Cooray has apparently passed sensitive information to the Tigers.
In August 2005, there had been unrest in the Jaffna area, seemingly among the civilians. They vented their fury on the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Police through mob violence. During the afternoon of August 4, 2005, there was a massive ‘civilian’ protest at Innuvil. When the protestors had become restless and resorted to mob violence, Superintendent of Police for Jaffna, Charles Wijewardena, on receipt of orders to try to defuse the situation, had arrived at the scene. He was accompanied by several Police officers and constables.
When SP Wijewardena arrived at Innuvil, the protestors had said they were willing to talk to the Police. Some of them had approached SP Wijewardena and said they wanted to talk with him.
They had requested him to come to a nearby house alone and unarmed. A firm believer in negotiation and persuasion, the SP had obliged and gone to the house even without taking his walkie-talkie with him. However, details have not been clear after his entry into the house. It was the last time any of his colleagues saw SP Wijewardena alive.
SP Wijewardena’s trust betrayed
The Police team that accompanied him was waiting for SP Wijewardena’s return. But he never returned alive. Later investigations revealed the murky details of the incident.
Even as the Police team has waited outside the house, as soon as the SP had entered the house, the so-called mobsters had overpowered him, removed his uniform, dressed him in a sarong and shirt and moved him away to an undisclosed location.
When their senior officer had not returned, the Police team had wanted to enter the house where he should have been. But the arrival of the Sri Lanka Army had prevented them from doing so. The Army personnel had said that the abduction had been planned by the LTTE, and the possibility of negotiations was a ruse to get the SP away from his team.
Information gathered by Army intelligence later had suggested that SP Wijewardena was alive when he was taken hostage in a van and driven away from Innuvil. He had been moved while Police officers who accompanied him waited outside the house.
The then Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was informed in the afternoon of the hostage situation and protests, apparently by LTTE political head for Jaffna Ilamparithi. The monitors including acting SLMM spokesperson Vilja Kudvonen, had arrived at Innuvil afterwards and had found nobody to negotiate with, and around 7.00 pm had returned to their office.
However, by around 7.00 pm, the mutilated body of SP Wijewardena was found lying near Pillair Kovil at Palavodai, between Innuvil and Suthumalai, about five km north of the protest site. Wijewardena’s body bore evidence of torture. There were cut marks and stab injuries on his body. His head had been smashed and his Police cap was lying beside his body. Evidence suggested that he had been killed soon after he was moved from Innuvil.
The Police team that accompanied him was waiting for SP Wijewardena’s return. But he never returned alive. Later investigations revealed the murky details of the incident.
Even as the Police team has waited outside the house, as soon as the SP had entered the house, the so-called mobsters had overpowered him, removed his uniform, dressed him in a sarong and shirt and moved him away to an undisclosed location.
When their senior officer had not returned, the Police team had wanted to enter the house where he should have been. But the arrival of the Sri Lanka Army had prevented them from doing so. The Army personnel had said that the abduction had been planned by the LTTE, and the possibility of negotiations was a ruse to get the SP away from his team.
Information gathered by Army intelligence later had suggested that SP Wijewardena was alive when he was taken hostage in a van and driven away from Innuvil. He had been moved while Police officers who accompanied him waited outside the house.
The then Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was informed in the afternoon of the hostage situation and protests, apparently by LTTE political head for Jaffna Ilamparithi. The monitors including acting SLMM spokesperson Vilja Kudvonen, had arrived at Innuvil afterwards and had found nobody to negotiate with, and around 7.00 pm had returned to their office.
However, by around 7.00 pm, the mutilated body of SP Wijewardena was found lying near Pillair Kovil at Palavodai, between Innuvil and Suthumalai, about five km north of the protest site. Wijewardena’s body bore evidence of torture. There were cut marks and stab injuries on his body. His head had been smashed and his Police cap was lying beside his body. Evidence suggested that he had been killed soon after he was moved from Innuvil.
The link allowed to slip away
During this incident, Lakshman Cooray was the Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jaffna. On August 8, a special team of sleuths was dispatched to Jaffna for an inquiry.
This team was successful in apprehending one suspect, said to be a hard core LTTE cadre. This Tiger member named Gopi was without one of his hands. He was said to have led the mob which was suspected to have killed SP Wijewardena. He was brought to Colombo and produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court. When the CID produced him for an identification parade before the Police team that had accompanied SP Wijewardena, they failed to identify him. At that time the Fort Magistrate was surprised that the Police constables couldn’t identify Gopi.
They felt it was a bit unusual that they failed to identify Gopi , as his missing arm would have been a dead give-away. Informed sources from the Police say that Lakshman Cooray who was the Jaffna ASP, had given these Police personnel strict instructions not to identify this hard core LTTE cadre as he had received instructions to save Gopi who was claimed by the LTTE as a vital member of the outfit.
When this columnist inquired about SP Cooray from Police constables to Senior DIGs, all of them said Cooray was a disgrace to the Police force and dubbed him a “traitor.”
One senior military officer told this column that the public should support ongoing investigations of Lakshman Cooray conducted by the Terrorist Investigation Division. He further noted that any details the public knows about the SP must be revealed to the TID.
During this incident, Lakshman Cooray was the Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jaffna. On August 8, a special team of sleuths was dispatched to Jaffna for an inquiry.
This team was successful in apprehending one suspect, said to be a hard core LTTE cadre. This Tiger member named Gopi was without one of his hands. He was said to have led the mob which was suspected to have killed SP Wijewardena. He was brought to Colombo and produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court. When the CID produced him for an identification parade before the Police team that had accompanied SP Wijewardena, they failed to identify him. At that time the Fort Magistrate was surprised that the Police constables couldn’t identify Gopi.
They felt it was a bit unusual that they failed to identify Gopi , as his missing arm would have been a dead give-away. Informed sources from the Police say that Lakshman Cooray who was the Jaffna ASP, had given these Police personnel strict instructions not to identify this hard core LTTE cadre as he had received instructions to save Gopi who was claimed by the LTTE as a vital member of the outfit.
When this columnist inquired about SP Cooray from Police constables to Senior DIGs, all of them said Cooray was a disgrace to the Police force and dubbed him a “traitor.”
One senior military officer told this column that the public should support ongoing investigations of Lakshman Cooray conducted by the Terrorist Investigation Division. He further noted that any details the public knows about the SP must be revealed to the TID.
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