Former ASP Cleared In Millennium City Case

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige has acquitted former Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kulasiri Udugampola, who was accused of revealing sensitive information about military intelligence officers residing at the Millennium City housing complex in Athurugiriya.

The officers were reportedly conducting operations to safeguard Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Delivering the verdict, Judge Patabendige stated that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against Udugampola beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the court ordered the acquittal of Udugampola on all 22 counts.

What Was the Millennium City Incident?

The Millennium City incident dates back to January 2, 2002, shortly after the United National Front (UNF) led by Ranil Wickremesinghe won the general election on December 5, 2001, defeating President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's party.

A few days after the new government was established, a police team led by ASP Kulasiri Udugampola raided a house at the Millennium City housing complex in Athurugiriya. The raid resulted in the seizure of a cache of weapons and the arrest of several individuals.

The raid was conducted under the direction of Udugampola, who was then in charge of the Kandy Police Kennel Division.

However, it was later revealed that the raided location was a safe house maintained by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) of the Sri Lanka Army, specifically for the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) unit.

Among those arrested were a captain and five other members of the LRRP unit, along with two civilians. The exposure of the intelligence officers and the safe house led to significant controversy and raised serious concerns about national security.

Legal Actions Taken:

In response to the Millennium City incident, the Attorney General filed 22 charges against Udugampola.

These charges included actions detrimental to the security and welfare of the Republic of Sri Lanka between January 2, 2002, and September 3, 2002, in Colombo, Athurugiriya, Kandy, and Katugastota.

The charges also involved gathering information about the military housing complex, the intelligence officers residing there, and their operations, which were crucial to safeguarding Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The case was initially filed in the Kandy High Court but was later transferred to the Colombo High Court, where Judge Aditya Patabendige presided over the trial.

Court's Decision:

Today, Judge Patabendige delivered the verdict, stating that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against Udugampola beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, Udugampola was acquitted of all 22 charges filed by the Attorney General.