A blistering judgment in Kurunegala has ripped into the CID for arresting former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne without evidence, exposing a reckless abuse of power and a legal embarrassment for Sri Lanka’s investigators.
The Kurunegala High Court has delivered a stinging rebuke to the Criminal Investigation Department after it arrested and remanded former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne without proper evidence. High Court Judge Tikiri Jayathilake, in a ruling on the 14th, ordered Ulugetenne’s release on bail, condemning the flawed process and accusing the CID of ignoring basic legal procedure.
In his judgment, the judge made it clear that Sri Lanka’s Criminal Procedure Code lays out how investigators must act when evidence is lacking. Section 116 specifically outlines the correct procedure, yet the CID appeared to disregard it entirely. Instead of following the law, the department plunged headfirst into what the court described as a baseless detention.
Judge Jayathilake did not stop at simply granting bail. He used the opportunity to point out systemic failures within the CID. He reminded the court that senior posts such as Officers in Charge of investigation divisions are entrusted only to those with more than 20 years of service, precisely so that professionalism and legal compliance are guaranteed. This case, he said, showed how badly that trust had been betrayed.
The High Court further reminded the CID that there are multiple binding case precedents on how to proceed in the absence of evidence. These rulings exist to safeguard citizens against arbitrary arrest. The department, however, acted as though none of these protections mattered. The judge stressed that when no evidence exists, investigators have a duty to avoid trampling on fundamental rights.
The ruling concluded that there was insufficient material to sustain a case against the former Navy Commander. Accordingly, bail was granted, and the credibility of the CID has been left in tatters. For many, this episode raises serious questions about accountability in law enforcement, the erosion of due process, and whether powerful agencies can continue to abuse their authority without consequences.
This high-profile embarrassment has now turned into a public relations nightmare for the CID, exposing a dangerous pattern where arrests are made first and evidence is chased later. The ruling will likely ignite public debate about the integrity of Sri Lanka’s justice system and whether the CID leadership is competent enough to command public trust in such sensitive national investigations.
