Graphic by Manoj Nishantha
Attached Pic - The recent arrest of former Navy Spokesman Commodore, D.K.P Dassanayake for allegedly aiding and abetting the enforced disappearances of 11 youth between 2008 - 2009 has drawn mixed reactions from various individuals. While some political figures have continuously attempted to portray it as an attempt to, as they call it, ‘ Hunt Down War Heroes,’ to the determined mother, Sarojini Naganathan, it is yet another step towards justice and the eventual return of her only son.
Borrowed phone
In fact, it was the hurried notes made by Sarojini on a diary during several secret phone conversations with her abducted son, Rajiv Naganathan that first makes mention of Dassanayake. While being held at Chaithya Road, a place locally known as ‘Pittu Bambuwa’ after his abduction, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) says, Naganathan calling his mom through a borrowed phone was able to identify those holding him captive as his mother noted the details down. Presented to the courts as evidence after being handed over to the CID for investigation, in these notes, quoting her son, Sarojini writes “Commander Dassanayake who is to be made Captain, is here”.
According to an investigating officer at the CID these notes have helped investigators in uncovering details of Dassanayake’s alleged link to the supposed extortion racket and abductions carried out by a group of naval officers at the time. In fact Rajiv in a series of calls was able to provide valauble information regarding his whereabouts and captors to his mother which has now greatly contributed to the investigations.
According to the CID, while Dassanayake was working as Deputy Director of Operations of the Sri Lanka Navy at the time, his possible connection to the incidents goes beyond the fact of simply ‘being there’ as mentioned in the notes made by Sarojini Naganathan.
The CID claims that Dassanayake was in fact aware that several of the abducted persons were being held captive at the ‘Pittu Bambuwa’.
‘Gun Side’
According to the CID source, yet another suspect in the case, Lt. Commander Sampath Munasinghe in his statement to the CID maintained that Dassanayake was made aware, particularly, about the presence of Amanan Lyon and Roshan Lyon at the ‘Pittu Bambuwa’ by him. The CID also claims that the Navy maintained files regarding the duo, another fact known to Dassanayake.
Therefore, they say his knowledge regarding the captives led to his arrest while being charged for aiding and abetting the disappearance of the men.
Further to these facts and evidence presented to courts, the CID says, they are in possession of photographic evidence showing then Lt. Commander Sumith Ranasinghe who was also recently arrested in connection to the case, along with Dassanayake and a number of sailors serving at ‘Gun Side’ located within the Ocean Science Faculty premises of the Naval Command in Trincomalee, where the abducted youth were said to have been last held, and two other intelligence officers working under Dassanayake. According to the CID source, Dassanayake is part of the group photograph, in his capacity as an officer with authority to oversee them.
Meanwhile, the CID was also able to reveal that complaints were made to the department regarding alleged attempts by Dassanayake to intimidate naval officers speaking to the investigators. “Lt. Commander Welagedara and Sailor Upul Bandara complained to us of death threats made to them by him” the source claimed.
Since the beginning of the CID investigations in 2009, to probe the disappearances, the CID, along with other related parties is said to have faced various obstacles, including non-cooperation by the Navy, and other interferences.
Political background
However, overcoming these issues in a different political background, the CID has been able to arrest several naval officers, with Dassanayake being the latest and the most prominent.
“Former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda will be called once again to complete the statement given to us” the CID officer says, adding that attempts will also be made to locate the whereabouts of Lt. Commander Sampath Hettiarachchi, another important suspect in the case, believed to have fled the country by a sea route.
Nevertheless, investigations are to continue, with the CID officers expected to arrest around six others connected to the case, shortly.
However for the parents of the abducted youth the wait for information about their children has been gruelling. In fact it has been nine long years since Sarojini Naganathan last saw her only son, Rajiv. The latter, along with four others, was abducted on September 17, 2008, a day before he was scheduled to leave for the United Kingdom for higher studies.
A lover of animals, cricket and a studious child, Sarojini says, she prays daily for his return and for the capture of all the perpetrators. Despite having last heard from her son in May, 2011, she holds on to the belief that Rajiv is still being held in an undisclosed location.
“My son is alive, but they are afraid to release him,” she says, adding that it is as if life has stopped since Rajiv was taken from them. “We spend our lives just waiting for our child to be returned to us” she says. Having suffered a fate worse than death, having lost her only child, Sarojini says, she is now fearless.
“I will fight for justice and find my son in whichever way possible” she says, adding that she is pained by the callous statements made about her child by certain individuals.
“My son was talented and educated, and would have served the country well if he was allowed to do his higher studies” she says, questioning if such a gifted child could be an LTTE sympathizer. “They are spewing lies about these children” she says.
Ransom
Recalling the past, Sarojini says, she herself had withdrawn money on that day, to give her son.
“He wanted to treat his friends before leaving” she says, adding that he had then left with his friends. Having spoken to anyone possible to secure the release of her son, she says, a man calling himself Annachchi had kept calling her asking for Rupees 10 Million as ransom in order to release Rajiv.
“We told him we will pay, but just return the child” Sarojini says, adding that their pleas fell on deaf ears.
Sarojini and her husband today, continue to live in their family home visiting places of worship and the courts, focusing solely on the return of their son and justice for the wrong that was done to them.
Eventual death
While the mother of Thilakeshwaran who was abducted along with Rajiv had passed away earlier this year, Sarojini says, the disappearance of her son greatly contributed to her failing health and eventual death.
The suffering and stress due to losing Rajiv too appears to have taken a toll on Sarojini and her husband. Despite ailing from health issues, the brave parents have vowed to fight for justice.
“I can barely walk but I will go anywhere and do anything to get justice and my son” she says, determinedly. However, according to Sarojini and Attorney at Law Achala Seneviratne representing the disappeared youth, more support is needed from the Attorney General’s Department and the other parties involved, to ensure that justice is done.
Recalling the obstacles faced, Sarojini commended the CID for their tireless efforts, saying that she is thankful the case is now being heard by the courts regularly.
“My child did no wrong to anyone and all of them were just students” she says, adding that due to her belief in God she refuses to give up hope that one day she will once again see her son.
Pic: Sudath Nishantha
I will fight for justice - Sarojini
It has been nine long years since Sarojini Naganathan last saw her only son, Rajiv. The latter, along with four others, was abducted on September 17, 2008, a day before he was scheduled to leave for the United Kingdom for higher studies.
A lover of animals, cricket and a studious child, Sarojini says, she prays daily for his return and for the capture of all the perpetrators. Despite having last heard from her son in May, 2011, she holds on to the belief that Rajiv is still being held in an undisclosed location.
“My son is alive, but they are afraid to release him,” she says, adding that it is as if life has stopped since Rajiv was taken from them. “We spend our lives just waiting for our child to be returned to us” she says. Having suffered a fate worse than death, having lost her only child, Sarojini says, she is now fearless. “I will fight for justice and find my son in whichever way possible” she says, adding that she is pained by the callous statements made about her child by certain individuals.
“My son was talented and educated, and would have served the country well if he was allowed to do his higher studies” she says, questioning if such a gifted child could be an LTTE sympathizer. “They are spewing lies about these children” she says.
Recalling the past, Sarojini says, she herself had withdrawn money on that day, to give her son. “He wanted to treat his friends before leaving” she says, adding that he had then left with his friends. Having spoken to anyone possible to secure the release of her son, she says, a man calling himself Annachchi had kept calling her asking for Rupees 10 Million as ransom in order to release Rajiv. “We told him we will pay, but just return the child” Sarojini says, adding that their pleas fell on deaf ears. 