In Sri Lanka, a police report has said the brother of former president Mahinda Rajapakse directed a top-secret squad that targeted journalists and dissidents. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told a local court in Colombo yesterday that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who served as defence secretary, had operated the unit outside the army command structure for the purpose. <br/><br/>The CID report was based on testimony from former army commander Sarath Fonseka, currently a minister in the government. Rajapakse rule, credited for defeating the LTTE, was allegedly shrouded in killings of dozens of journalists who kept an anti-government stance. The testimony was revealed in a case involving killing former Sunday Leader newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.<br/><br/> The current government, led by President Sirisena had pledged justice for such killings after there were widespread accusations of human rights violations during the war. Rajapakse has termed the investigations as politically motivated.