Shani Abeysekara
Shani Abeysekara | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Senior police official |
| Years active | 1986–2021, 2024–present |
| Known for | Former head of Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department; investigations into major cases including 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings |
Shani Abeysekara is a senior police official from Sri Lanka holding the rank of Deputy Inspector General. He formerly served as the head of the Criminal Investigation Department and presently leads the Criminal Intelligence Analysis and Prevention Division.
Police career
Abeysekara commenced his service with the Sri Lanka Police on 10 February 1986, beginning as a Probationary Sub Inspector after training at the Sri Lanka Police College in Kalutara. His early assignments included roles within the VIP Security Division of the Special Task Force and the President's Security Division. In 1999, upon a special request by DIG Punya de Silva, he transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He was appointed Director of CID in 2017 and held this position until November 2019. Following the presidential election, he was reassigned as Personal Assistant to the DIG of Galle range before being suspended from duty in January 2020.
Throughout his tenure, Abeysekara led investigations into significant cases such as the Attempted assassination of Chandrika Kumaratunga, Bandaranaike Airport attack, Udathalawinna massacre, Royal Park murder, the attempted assassination of General Sarath Fonseka, Angulana double murder, disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda, killing of Lasantha Wickrematunge, and the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings. His efforts during the Easter Sunday attacks earned him commendations from INTERPOL. Additionally, he served as a pivotal prosecution witness in over 100 legal proceedings, contributing to more than 20 murder convictions.
Following the election under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Abeysekara faced accusations of political partiality by the government, which led to his removal from CID duties. In January 2020, he was suspended after private telephone conversations that allegedly harmed police credibility were leaked. While detained, he tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020 and was granted bail in June 2021 after nearly a year in custody. Abeysekara concluded his police career in 2021.
In June 2024, he became a member of the Retired Police Collective associated with the National People's Power (NPP). After Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed leadership of NPP in September 2024, Abeysekara was rehired on a contractual basis as Director of Criminal Intelligence Analysis and Prevention by the National Police Commission. He resumed his position as CID Director in July 2025 and spearheaded investigations into alleged misappropriation of state funds involving former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, which culminated in Wickremesinghe’s arrest in August 2025.
Controversies
Leaked telephone recordings featuring Shani Abeysekara and politician Ranjan Ramanayake, along with communications involving judges and other prominent individuals, suggested improper use of legal powers to benefit Ramanayake.[1] Additional audio files discovered during a search of his residence implicated him in hindering police inquiries.[2]
Abeysekara was held responsible for facilitating the escape of Nishantha de Silva and his family who sought asylum following the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[3]
In November 2019, Abeysekara’s name emerged amid controversy surrounding the brief detention of a Sri Lankan Swiss embassy employee who was questioned for nearly an hour before release. The Swiss government requested an investigation into this incident by Sri Lankan authorities.[4] Subsequent probes revealed her connections with Abeysekara, former Lake House Chairman Krishantha Cooray, and ex-Sunday Observer Editor Darisha Bastian prior to the alleged abduction. Both Cooray and Bastian departed from Sri Lanka during the inquiry.[5]
On 31 July 2020, Abeysekara was apprehended by the Colombo Crime Division on charges related to fabricating false evidence against former police officer Vass Gunawardane concerning the 2013 murder case of businessman Mohammed Siyam.[6] He remained in remand until October 2020.[7] His petition contesting this arrest was dismissed in December 2020.[8] In August 2023, he was acquitted by the Gampaha Magistrate following directives from the Attorney General regarding allegations of evidence fabrication.[9]
In October 2024, former parliamentarian and leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila demanded Abeysekara’s removal from his police role after a confidential Presidential Committee report on the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings disclosed that although the SIS had warned him about imminent attacks, no preventive action was taken.[10]