Detention 'ruined' army officer's life

A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officer has accused the SLA of ruining his life by detaining him for years making false allegations.

Captain Sarath Pushpakumara of SLA has been detained and questioned by the police for years on suspicion that he supported the Tamil Tigers.

He was acquitted of charges and released by the Colombo Additional Magistrate M Ilanchelian after the police informed the court of Attorney General's decision that there was not enough evidence to charge him.Captain Pushpakumara was arrested by the police Terrorist Investigation Deparment (TID) on 18 December 2006 while serving in the SLA camp in Galle Fort.

"I was detained for over three and half years on false charges and they ruined my whole life. I lost my wife and the daughter as a result and all my properties and assets," he told BBC Sandeshaya after the release.t is now proved that the accusations by the authorities and the media that he was a supporter of the Tamil Tigers are false, Captain Pushpakumara said.

"I was attacked and wounded in active duty in the north east front fighting the LTTE, but then I was accused by the SLA of supporting the Tigers. Even my own house was set on fire," he said.