From Fonseka convictions to arrest of Ulugetenne ...

Retired Navy Commander (2020 July to 2022 December 18) Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne has been further remanded till August 13 in connection with the alleged disappearance of a youth in 2010. At the time of the disappearance of Shantha Bandara, a resident of the Kegalle district, Ulugetenne had served as the Director Naval Intelligence (DNI).

- By SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

Ulugetenne, who also served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Havana during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the President, was taken into custody on July 28, 2025. Polgahawela Magistrate remanded the SLN veteran at the Kegalle remand prison till July 30, pending further investigations. Produced in the same court on July 30, Ulugetenne was re-remanded till August 13. Subsequently, Admiral Ulugetenne was transferred to New Dumbara Prison, at Pallekele, Kandy.

Annidda, a weekly, in its August 1, 2025, edition, disclosed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), probing Bandara’s disappearance, would seek statements from three former Navy Commanders, Admiral T.S.G. Samarasinghe (2009 July 15 to 2011 January 14), Admiral D.W.A.S. Dissanayake (2011 January 15 to 2012 September 26) and Admiral J.S.K. Colombage (2012 September 27 to 2014 June 30). The CID’s decision, according to the front-page lead report, was based on Admiral Ulugetenne’s statement to the CID.

Samarasinghe and Dissanayake had served as the Commander of the Navy (CoN) during Ulugetenne’s tenure as DNI, whereas Colombage held the post of Commander East during that particular period.

The Chemmani mass graves and Ulugetenne’s arrest dominated the media to such an extent, there seems to be an orchestrated campaign to discredit and humiliate the war-winning armed forces. But let me stress that if Ulugetenne’s complicity in Bandara’s disappearance is proved he should be dealt with appropriately, regardless of his previous status as CoN and ex-Ambassador to Cuba.

Pakistan’s Dawn, in an online report, quoted an unidentified police officer as having said: “We recorded a statement from him (Ulugetenne) regarding the disappearance of a 48-year-old man in 2010 and he was later arrested.”