Rasika's death - Police to submit findings

IOM chief leaves country

by Thava Sajitharan

The Cinnamon Garden police will submit the findings of the investigation concerning the death of Rashika Prasadini, a 21-year-old trainee journalist attached to V FM to the court at the next hearing on January 5, S. M. Keerthipala OIC of the police station said.

He said the police have sought advice from the Attorney General's Department as to what action could be taken against the International Organisation for Migration Chief Christoper Gascon who is allegedly involved in the road accident in which the trainee journalist was seriously injured. The journalist succumbed to her injuries.

The IOM chief is reported to have left the country with the permission of the Foreign Ministry last week. Mr. Gascon did not go to the court at the last hearing claiming diplomatic immunity. He was represented by his counsel.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry official told the Sunday Observer that the Ministry could not refuse to give permission for his departure from the country as no detention order was served on him.

The police said that the detention order could not be issued against a person who has diplomatic immunity. When asked if the diplomatic immunity could be stripped of from the IOM Chief in this regard, the OIC said that the police would explore such a possibility after consulting the Attorney General's Department. The IOM public information officer when contacted declined to make any comment. The accident occurred at the Horton Place - Kynsey Road junction on December 6.

The vehicle, owned and driven by the IOM chief allegedly collided with another vehicle in which Rashika Prasadini was travelling, throwing her out.