Indian Arrested Over Plot to Assassinate Sri Lankan President Sent to Mental Hospital

An Indian national arrested last month in Sri Lanka for being aware of the alleged “assassination plot” of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and others has been sent to a mental hospital.

Sri Lankan police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said on Oct.26 that Marceli Thomas is currently under doctors’ care at a mental hospital near Colombo, reported PTI.

“On court orders he was seen by the judicial medical officer. He in turn asked Thomas be seen by a psychiatrist. After the psychiatrist’s examination he was sent to the Mulleriyawa hospital,” he said.

Thomas, from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was arrested last month for knowing about alleged “assassination plot” of the President, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members, including former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Thomas appeared before Colombo Fort magistrate court on Oct.23, where he claimed that police are trying to frame him in this matter and pleaded his innocence.

Thomas was arrested from the home of Namal Kumara, Director (Operations) of a social movement called Anti-Corruption Force, who had called a press conference in September and played some recordings to accuse former DIG of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) Nalaka de Silva for conspiring to kill President Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The CID (Crime Investigation Department) of Sri Lanka arrested Silva on Oct.25 and remanded him to custody until Nov.7, reported Daily Mirror.

Earlier media reports said that he was arrested over the plot to kill the President, but the police said on Oct.26 that he has been arrested in connection with the alleged plot to kill ASP Prasanna Alwis and not for the alleged murder plot of President Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said the publication.

A few days ago, it was reported by an Indian newspaper that Sirisena told his ministers that Indian intelligence agency RAW was involved in his alleged murder plot. After this report, Sri Lankan President had called Indian Prime Minister to reject the reports.

Few days ago, back the Indian media had quoted Thomas’s brother as saying that Thomas has been facing a mental condition since mid-1990s, for which he should be given medical treatment.

“This is a fabricated case. My elder brother is a victim of political insecurity in Sri Lanka,” Indian Express reported Thomas’ brother as saying.