The transfer of the Officer-in-Charge of the CID’s Organised Crime Investigation unit, Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Silva, has been cancelled by the National Police Commission, the Office of the Inspector General of Police reports.



Silva was transferred to the Negombo division with immediate effect, with the orders coming directly from the President, police sources said.



Silva was a key figure in investigations into several major attacks on journalists during the Rajapaksa administration, including the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, the abduction and assault of Nation Deputy Editor Keith Noyahr, and assaults suffered by Upali Thennakoon and Namal Perera. He was also the main officer investigating the abduction and murder case of 11 youths by an alleged Navy abduction racket.