The official told Sri Lanka Mirror that Ekneligoda had been abducted by two armed Tamil men in Colombo and handed over to the Minneriya Army camp.

On the basis of this information, several Army colonels will be arrested on suspicion, he said.

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that the case files have been reopened of journalists who had disappeared during the rule of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He said that instructions and freedom have been given to resume most covered up investigations and conduct them properly, impartially and in a justifiable manner.

The president’s remarks came at a recent function where former Bar Association present Upul Jayasuriya was felicitated by the Commonwealth lawyers association.