Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a former Navy chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, previously accused of abduction and conspiracy to murder as Governor of North-Western province.

Sri Lanka's ex-Navy Chief appointed as governor

A former&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;navy chief previously charged over a spate of killings during the island's long civil war was on Thursday named a provincial governor.

The investigation into Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda cast a spotlight on extrajudicial murders during the 37-year conflict, which ended in 2009.

He&nbsp;was one of 14 people accused of abducting the teenaged children of wealthy families and killing them after extorting money.

Authorities dropped the charges in October, prompting an outcry from human rights groups.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa -- who served as defence chief in the final years of the war -- appointed Karannagoda governor of North Western Province, a press release said.

Four charges had been laid against Karannagoda including conspiracy to murder, which carries the death penalty.&nbsp;

Police said the victims were not linked to ethnic Tamil separatist rebels and were kidnapped purely to extort money from families. Some were killed even after cash was handed over.

Military figures have been widely accused of extrajudicial killings during the war.&nbsp;The final days of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's civil war were marked by serious abuses, according to rights groups.&nbsp;

A UN panel has said 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the last stages of the conflict.

A former Sri Lanka navy chief previously charged over a spate of killings during the island's long civil war was on Thursday named a provincial governor. The investigation into Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda cast a spotlight on extrajudicial murders during the 37-year conflict, which ended in 2009.

A former Sri Lanka navy chief previously charged over a spate of killings during the island's long civil war was on Thursday named a provincial governor. The investigation into Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda cast a spotlight on extrajudicial murders during the 37-year conflict, which ended in 2009. He was one of 14 people accused of abducting the teenaged children of wealthy families and killing them after extorting money. Authorities dropped the charges in October, prompting an outcry from human rights groups. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa -- who served as defence chief in the final years of the war -- appointed Karannagoda governor of North Western Province, a press release said. Four charges had been laid against Karannagoda including conspiracy to murder, which carries the death penalty. Police said the victims were not linked to ethnic Tamil separatist rebels and were kidnapped purely to extort money from families. Some were killed even after cash was handed over. Military figures have been widely accused of extrajudicial killings during the war. The final days of Sri Lanka's civil war were marked by serious abuses, according to rights groups. A UN panel has said 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the last stages of the conflict.

Sri Lankan government appoints ex-Navy chief as governor after murder charges dropped

Sri Lankan police on Saturday hunted a former navy chief linked to the kidnap and murder of 11 people in an extortion case that has attracted international condemnation.

Wasantha Karannagoda, 66, was added to a list of 14 men accused of abducting children from wealthy families in 2008-2009 and later killing them.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake on Friday impounded the retired admiral's passport as police feared he would attempt to flee the country.

The four allegations against Karannagoda include conspiracy to murder, which carries the death penalty.

"We have launched a search for him," a police official told AFP. "We have alerted all ports of exit."&nbsp;

One of Karannagoda's successors, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the current head of Sri Lanka's military, has been on bail since December after being accused of helping one of the suspects to avoid arrest.

Police told the court that the 11 victims were killed while in the illegal custody of the navy, although their bodies have never found.

Investigators believe the number of victims to be at least three times higher.

Police said that the victims were not linked to Tamil rebels and had been kidnapped purely to extort money from their families.

The killings of the young men have been widely condemned and international rights organisations have repeatedly demanded accountability.

The case was reopened only after President Mahinda Rajapakse lost his reelection bid in January 2015 elections.

Several intelligence officers also face prosecution over the murder of journalists critical of Rajapakse, whose decade in power was marred by allegations of war crimes and grave rights abuses.

Military figures have been accused of extrajudicial killings during the 37-year war against the Tamil Tiger separatist movement.

The final days of the offensive that eventually crushed the rebels were marked by major abuses, according to rights groups. A UN panel said 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final stages of the war that ended in May 2009.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan police on Saturday hunted a former navy chief linked to the kidnap and murder of 11 people in an extortion case that has attracted international condemnation.

Sri Lankan police on Saturday hunted a former navy chief linked to the kidnap and murder of 11 people in an extortion case that has attracted international condemnation. Wasantha Karannagoda, 66, was added to a list of 14 men accused of abducting children from wealthy families in 2008-2009 and later killing them. Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake on Friday impounded the retired admiral's passport as police feared he would attempt to flee the country. The four allegations against Karannagoda include conspiracy to murder, which carries the death penalty. "We have launched a search for him," a police official told AFP. "We have alerted all ports of exit." One of Karannagoda's successors, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the current head of Sri Lanka's military, has been on bail since December after being accused of helping one of the suspects to avoid arrest. Police told the court that the 11 victims were killed while in the illegal custody of the navy, although their bodies have never found. Investigators believe the number of victims to be at least three times higher. Police said that the victims were not linked to Tamil rebels and had been kidnapped purely to extort money from their families. The killings of the young men have been widely condemned and international rights organisations have repeatedly demanded accountability. The case was reopened only after President Mahinda Rajapakse lost his reelection bid in January 2015 elections. Several intelligence officers also face prosecution over the murder of journalists critical of Rajapakse, whose decade in power was marred by allegations of war crimes and grave rights abuses. Military figures have been accused of extrajudicial killings during the 37-year war against the Tamil Tiger separatist movement. The final days of the offensive that eventually crushed the rebels were marked by major abuses, according to rights groups. A UN panel said 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final stages of the war that ended in May 2009.

Sri Lanka in manhunt for ex-admiral linked to extortion killings