COLOMBO – Former Sri Lankan navy chief Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne was arrested on July 28 in connection with the abduction and disappearance of a 48-year-old man during his time as head of naval intelligence in 2010.
The former military officer, who retired in December 2022 and later served as ambassador to Cuba, was remanded after recording his statement with police. The arrest comes amid a revived probe into high-profile disappearances allegedly carried out by naval intelligence during the final years of Sri Lanka’s civil war.
The case adds pressure to a justice system that has long faced criticism for shielding military officials from prosecution, particularly those accused in enforced disappearances and ransom abductions.
Ulugetenne’s arrest echoes the earlier case of Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, who was named in the “Navy 11” case involving the kidnapping of 11 youth. Though charges against Karannagoda were dropped in 2021, rights groups and families of the missing continue to demand accountability.
Groups like Families of the Disappeared have voiced cautious optimism over Ulugetenne’s arrest but remain wary of political interference, warning that efforts are reportedly underway to secure immunity for other implicated officials.
Legal experts say this development could set a precedent for deeper investigations into systemic abuse by naval intelligence, if allowed to proceed without obstruction.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.