Former director of the CID Shani Abeysekara has opened up about his time in prison and the help he received from the lawyers.
“I was allowed to meet my wife and children only four time during the 10 months and 18 days I was in prison” he said addressing a gathering on Saturday (01).
“I have produced hundreds of people to many courts, but I realized the real feeling of it when I was produced to court as a suspect” he said.
“At that time, you become extremely helpless. There was not a single charge against me during my 24-year tenure at the CID. The main accusation against me was filing cases” he went on to say.
He further said that none of the lawyers charged any fees to appear for the 6 fundamental rights cases filed on behalf of him at the appeal court, high court and the Supreme Court.
Shani Abeyesekara especially recalled the help offered to him by former senior human rights lawyer Gowri Shankari Thavarasa, who died of Covid-19 last year.
“After I was released on bail, I went to meet her with my daughter and I urged her to take some fees, at least to cover the cost of papers. She denied acceptance of any fees and said if she took money from me, it would be an unrepeatable sin” he said, remembering the deceased lawyer.
“I think our society nowadays needs hundred of people with the attributes of Ms. Thavarasa, as there are so many issues to be resolved through the judiciary” he future said.