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Schaffter’s murder probe takes new turn; statement to be recorded from wife

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The investigations launched into the murder of Janashakthi Group Director Dinesh Schaffter has revealed that a text message was sent from his mobile phone to cricket commentator Brian Thomas only after Mr. Schaffter became a victim of the criminals at the Borella Cemetery.

Accordingly, it has been revealed that the text message was sent to the mobile phone of Mr. Thomas by the killers of Mr. Schaffter.

Also, the investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have revealed that the car in which Schaffter was travelling had gone directly to the Borella Cemetery from his home at no:15, Flower Road, Cinnamon Gardens.

The investigative teams suspect that Mr. Schaffter left home at around 2.06 pm and that this crime was committed within half an hour or so after leaving home.

Mobile phones of Dinesh & Brian subjected to forensic test

Further investigations are being conducted to find out whether a person got into the car on the way or whether he went to the cemetery expecting to meet someone.

After observing the location where the vehicle was parked at the cemetery, the investigating officers have said that someone who has a proper understanding of the Borella Cemetery is involved in this crime.

“I will wait for you.”

Investigations revealed that a text message saying “I will wait for you” was sent to the mobile phone of Thomas, who is in a dispute with Schaffter regarding a financial transaction, when his vehicle was inside the cemetery.

It is suspected that the message was sent from Mr. Schaffter’s mobile phone by the person or group of people who committed the crime since the text message has been sent after 2.30 pm.

There is a suspicion that the murderers have attempted to bring Thomas to the location of the crime and frame him for the murder.

Mr. Thomas has replied to that text message saying, “I have nothing to do with you. I don’t want to meet you.”

Police sources revealed that the mobile phones of Mr.Thomas and Mr. Schaffter were taken into custody by the CID and forwarded to the Computer Forensic Laboratory.

No evidence to say Brian was involved in the crime

Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the security camera system at the house of Mr. Thomas has also been investigated by the CID.

He said that no information has been revealed to confirm that Mr. Thomas was away from home during the time of the murder or that he was involved in this crime.

Mr. Thalduwa said the officers of the Organized Crime and Homicide Investigation Division of the CID have obtained statements from 23 people including several family members of Mr. Schaffter as well as several employees of the Borella Cemetery.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer said more information will be obtained from Mr. Schaffter’s wife as well.

Statement to be recorded from the wife

The official also said that since the last rites were held yesterday, they will start the work from tomorrow.

Mr. Schaffter’s wife initially told the police that he left the house saying that he will return in half an hour.

When exactly half an hour had passed, she had made a phone call to her husband and when she did not get a response, she had become worried.

In the investigations, special attention has been paid to the fact that Mr. Schaffter has shared his location sharing facility of his phone with his business partner in addition to his wife.

The business partner, who is also a company director, has told the police that Mr. Schaffter has told him that he was going to meet Thomas.

He is also the first person to find Mr. Schaffter.

According to the CID, the investigations into the murder of Mr. Schaffter has now taken a new turn.

In relation to the investigation into the murder, 42 CCTV cameras along the road from his house to the cemetery have also been examined.

Source – Dinamina

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US congratulates AKD on election win

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The United States has also congratulated President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his victory in the Sri Lankan presidential election.US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US commends the people of Sri Lanka for peacefully exercising their right to vote.

The statement notes :
The United States congratulates President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his victory in the Sri Lankan presidential election, as confirmed by the vote results on September 22. We commend the people of Sri Lanka for peacefully exercising their right to vote. This election is a testament to the strength of Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions and the commitment of its citizens to shaping their future through peaceful and democratic means.

The United States remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka as it builds a stable, prosperous, and cohesive society. We look forward to working with President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake to further strengthen our bilateral ties, which are based on shared democratic values and respect for national sovereignty. We also look forward to promoting economic growth, security, and deeper cooperation between our nations.

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UN urges SL’s creditors for fiscal space amid economic & human rights concerns

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The UN Human Rights Office has called on Sri Lanka’s creditors to provide the Government with the fiscal space needed to realize economic, social, and cultural rights.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk in a new report said that economic policy decisions must align with Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations.

He added that the ongoing effects of the 2022 economic crisis and subsequent austerity measures have particularly impacted the poor, especially women.

A report issued by the UN Human Rights Office has also identified renewed threats to fundamental freedoms in Sri Lanka, highlighting new or proposed regressive laws, erosion of democratic checks and balances, ongoing threats and intimidation against civil society and journalists, and the recurrence of serious human rights violations from the past.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasized the importance of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections as an opportunity for Sri Lanka to recommit to the transformational changes demanded by a broad cross-section of its citizens, including accountability and reconciliation.

The report points to several laws and bills introduced by the Government since 2023, which grant security forces broad powers and significantly expand restrictions on freedoms of expression, opinion, and association.

This trend is particularly concerning during the pre-election period, Türk noted.

Despite a promised moratorium, authorities have continued to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act to arrest and detain individuals. The report highlights recent cases of arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture, and deaths in custody.

Impunity and lack of accountability for crimes committed during and after the civil war, which ended in 2009, persist. Türk urged the newly elected Government to address the root causes of conflict and undertake fundamental constitutional and institutional reforms to close the accountability gap and work towards reconciliation.

The report also describes a long-standing pattern of intimidation and harassment of journalists and civil society actors, especially those working on enforced disappearances, land disputes, and environmental issues. Families of the forcibly disappeared face intimidation, arrest, and surveillance by security services in their attempts to seek the truth or commemorate their loved ones.

Türk emphasized that crimes and violations committed during and after the civil war, including the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, must not go unpunished. He called for thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible.

In the absence of the Sri Lankan State’s willingness or ability to prosecute and punish perpetrators, the report urges the international community to pursue complementary strategies to support accountability in Sri Lanka. These strategies include the use of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction, targeted sanctions against credibly alleged perpetrators, and other measures consistent with international law.

(newsfirst.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by newsfirst.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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SC annuls enforcing PCoI recommendations

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Supreme Court issued an order to annul the enforcement of recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) tasked with investigating allegations of political victimisation.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry was appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and was led by retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne.

Among the petitioners were Former DIG Ravi Senaviratne, retired High Court Judge Padmini Ranawaka, Sandya Eknaligoda, and the former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, retired Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekera.

The petitions were heard before a three-judge bench consisting of Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Achala Wengappuli, and Arjuna Obeysekera.

In their verdict, the justices mandated the government to compensate the petitioners by covering the court fees amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand rupees each.
(News 1st)

(This story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

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