In a communiqué, the Army, assuring its assistance to the CID investigations into the murder of the Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickremetunga, said the Commander of the Army instructed the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Sri Lanka Military Police to trace the documents that had been requested by the CID, but the SIU could not find the requested documents.
"However, at this stage, by virtue of the powers vested in the Commander of the Army under the Army Discipline Regulations, the Commander of the Army has appointed a Court of Inquiry (COI), to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing documents, and if they are indeed missing, the period they had gone missing and the persons responsible," the Army said.
The Commander of the Army has also appointed another separate Court of Inquiry to trace the missing documents, related to journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda case.
The findings of the Courts of Inquiry will be intimated to the Courts and the CID at the conclusions of the inquiries.
"The Army reiterates its utmost commitment to the Rule of Law and if any member of the Army is found to be involved in the two cases aforesaid, directly or indirectly including obstructing justice by suppressing of evidence, such persons will be brought before a court martial irrespective of their ranks or stature," the Army said in the statement.
