Prageeth Eknaligoda

Major Prabath Bulathwatte, who is alleged to be the leader of a death squad that assassinated Ekneligoda, was investigating Jihadists networks in Sri Lanka at the time of his arrest and his removal from the post is believed to have allowed the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter Bombings to happen. Thus he was reinstated to his former position in May 2019 and given control of a special team directly under the Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake.

In March 2015, the government launched a probe into the disappearance of Eknaligoda, but his wife expressed dissatisfaction over the government's actions. In January 2016, Bodu Bala Sena leader was arrested after he disrupted court proceedings on Eknaligoda disappearance

On June 5, 2013, a member of parliament claimed that Eknaligoda was living in France. Several Sri Lankan journalists in exile in France, including Manjula Wediwardana, whom that Member of parliament alleged to have taken him to meet Prageeth, vehemently denied the claims that Prageeth is living in hiding in France. French embassy in Colombo too denied any claims that Prageeth is living in France.

Eknaligoda was investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians by the Sri Lankan army in the fight against the LTTE. He left his office on the evening of January 24, 2010, saying that he had to meet an old friend. He has not been seen since that. He had earlier been abducted by a White Van in August 2009 and released the next day.

Prageeth Ekneligoda born April 9, 1960 is a Sri Lankan Cartoonist, Political analyst and Journalist. He was reported missing on January 24, 2010 two days before the Presidential polls in Sri Lanka when the country was under the Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa and has not been seen since. He actively participated in the presidential campaign of common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka while working as a freelance journalist for a pro-opposition website Lankaenews.com. Members of his family believe he has been abducted by pro-government supporters because he was investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons, charges that were denied by the government of Sri Lanka. In 2009 Amnesty International released information regarding the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Reporters without borders has issued a statement concerning him. The investigation into his disappearance is being led by the Colombo Crimes Division. He is married to human rights activist Sandya Eknaligoda who was given an International Women of Courage Award in 2017 for her campaigns.