The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, the answer to the question raised on 05.03.2026 under Standing Order 27(2) by the Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam is as follows. The question referred to several incidents about 12 years ago.

¶ 02 1. On 11.04.2014 at dawn, during a search operation by an Army detachment in the northern forest area of Kambili Wewa, Grama Niladhari Division Buddhangala, within the Padaviya Police Division, shots were fired at the detachment. The soldiers returned fire in self-defence and three persons died.

¶ 03 On 11.04.2014 at 1100 hours, Major Ekanayaka Mudiyanselage Ajith Ekanayaka of the Gajaba Regiment, Hendogollawa Forest Bogas Wewa Army Camp, lodged a complaint at Padaviya Police Station. It was recorded under CIB 319/98 and as Grave Crime No. 20/2014.

¶ 04 The Padaviya Police and Anuradhapura SOCO conducted on-site investigations, collected blood samples of the deceased, and took into custody, as productions, a firearm bearing No. 6223029 and a holster found with the deceased.

¶ 05 On 11.04.2014, facts were reported to the Hon. Magistrate’s Court of Kebitigollewa under Case No. B 239/2014, seeking a Magistrate’s Inquest and post-mortems at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, with directions to release the remains to next of kin or to arrange cremation by the State if none came forward, and to conduct further investigations by a special police team and report to Court.

¶ 06 On 02.07.2014, further facts were reported in Case No. B 239/2014 at the Magistrate’s Court of Kebitigollewa. Upon inquiry, Court determined that the deaths occurred due to return fire from a rifle in self-defence, and concluded proceedings, closing the file.

¶ 07 The second part of the Hon. Member’s question should be answered by the Ministry of Defence. Therefore, subject to receiving information from Defence — as several related inquiries are ongoing — I will submit any further details to Parliament in due course.

¶ 08 Thank you, Mr. Speaker.