Suspended Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, has been further remanded until July 09.

The order was issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court after considering the submissions made by Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, who appeared on behalf of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne, who appeared on behalf of the defense.

The CID arrested Thushara Upuldeniya on June 09, in connection with investigations into allegations that he aided and abetted the unlawful release of an inmate from Anuradhapura Prison under the Presidential Pardon granted for Vesak Poya.

The Committee of Inquiry to inquire and report its findings on IGP T. M. W. Deshabandhu Tennakoon in respect of acts of gross abuse of power concluded recording witness testimonies from the respondent IGP’s witness list today (June 25).

Although Attorney-at-Law R.S. Weerawikrama, representing the respondent IGP, previously stated that 15 witnesses, including the IGP himself, were scheduled to testify, he later informed the Committee that no further witnesses from the list would testify after two additional witnesses gave evidence today.

As a result, although the remaining witnesses appeared before the Committee, they were released based on the recommendation of the Committee, which convened under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice P.P. Surasena, with the participation of Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and Chairman of the National Police Commission E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake. Accordingly, evidence was recorded from only 7 witnesses on the respondent’s list, marking the conclusion of the respondent’s side of the proceedings.

Two other witnesses of the prosecution, who were abroad on official duties, are scheduled to provide testimony after June 26. This was agreed upon by both parties represented by Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera from the Attorney General’s Department, as well as the respondent’s legal counsel. It was decided that the Committee would reconvene on July 1, 2025, at 9:30 am to record these remaining testimonies.

Subsequently, both parties agreed to submit their written submissions to the Committee by 3:30 p. on July 8, 2025.

Cabinet approval was granted on April 29, 2024 to transfer Nuwara Eliya Post Office Building to the Urban Development Authority which was met with objections raised among the postal employees as well as civil organizations and public.

Later on it was decided to execute a project to prepare this building for the activities of the Department of Posts as earlier while preparing to utilize it for tourism promotion activities as well. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers had granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to repeal the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers that has been taken to transfer Nuwara Eliya Post Office building and its premises to the Urban Development Authority and to modify the building and the land to increase local / foreign tourist attraction and enhance new revenue generation paths.