Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe attempted to contact Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) while detained at the Criminal Investigations Department, as he had served as a minister in his government, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale said. 

Speaking to reporters in Kegalle yesterday, Thalatha Atukorale said Pillayan was someone who had assisted Ranil Wickremesinghe and had also served as a minister in his government.

Thalatha Atukorale further said that it was his responsibility to inquire if a member of his regime had suddenly been taken into custody, adding that Ranil Wickremesinghe had only fulfilled this responsibility. 

Stating that there was no other reason behind this, Thalatha Atukorale said they would like it if they could summon the former President to the CID and question the reason for his attempt to contact Pillayan via telephone.

“There is nothing to hide here. They brought up Batalanda before, now they are holding on to this call. Now they also want to record a statement over his comments related to Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. We are ready to face these. We will not hide things, will not hide ourselves, and people cannot hide as well,” she added.

Thalatha Atukorale made the comments in response to questions raised by reporters on the former President’s request to speak to Pillayan via telephone, after the latter had been arrested and detained by the CID. 

However, the request made by the former President had been denied, with Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala stating that the request was denied because it is illegal for a suspect in custody to communicate by phone.

Pillayan was arrested by the CID on April 9 in Batticaloa and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with the abduction and disappearance of a former vice chancellor of Eastern University. (Newswire)

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Opposition party members have called for Minister K.D. Lal Kantha to be investigated in matters related to the Batalanda Commission.

Addressing the media, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) trade union wing spokesman Ananda Palitha displayed a previous press conference of Minister Lal Kantha, during which the latter had made claims of murder during an armed struggle. 

Ananda Palitha said Lal Kantha and his party’s patriotism ended in the murders of 147 members of the National Services Association and ordinary citizens.

Also commenting on the Batalanda Commission Report, the General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP), Thalatha Athukorala said that the investigations must first summon Minister K.D. Lal Kantha as a witness.

Speaking during a media briefing, Thalatha Athukorala said Minister Lal Kantha has previously claimed that they have killed informants and persons, including monks, who had given evidence against them. 

“A person who has made such claims must be the first to be summoned as a witness. We know that nothing will happen through this Commission. Ranil Wickremesinghe is not in Parliament anymore. Why are they so scared of a single individual?” she questioned. 

The Batalanda Commission Report came to the spotlight after former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s controversial interview with international media, Al Jazeera recently.

Thereafter, the ‘Batalanda Commission Report’ was tabled in Parliament by the government last week.

Addressing the Parliament, the Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said a policy decision has been taken by the Cabinet and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take action regarding the Batalanda Commission Report.

Minister Rathnayake further said that a decision has been taken to forward the report to the Attorney General for necessary advice and that the President will appoint a special committee to study the Batalanda Commission report.

The Batalanda Commission was established to investigate allegations of unlawful detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings at the Batalanda Housing Scheme in Sri Lanka between 1988 and 1990, during the JVP insurgency. (Newswire)

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Senior politician Thalatha Atukorale has been appointed as the General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP). 

UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardana said that the appointment was made by party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Prior to the 2024 Presidential Election, Thalatha Atukorale stepped down from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) citing differences of opinion within the party.

Making a special statement in Parliament, she said that members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) who were previously branded as corrupt politicians have joined the SJB, prompting her decision.

Soon after, Thalatha Atukorale extended her support to then President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the 2024 Presidential election, during a rally in Welimada. (Newswire)

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The Parliament has informed the National Election Commission that a vacancy has been created following the resignation of Thalatha Atukorale.

On Wednesday (Aug 21), Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Thalatha Atukorale addressing Parliament said that she will be resigning as a Member of Parliament today, citing various differences of opinion within the party.

Following her resignation, SJB MP Karunarathna Paranawithana is next in line to enter the Parliament to fill the vacancy.

MP Karunarathna Paranawithana is at the forefront of the SJB’s list of members from the Ratnapura District. 

Karunarathna Paranawithana is the Politburo Chairperson of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) led by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Thalatha Atukorale addressing Parliament said that she will be resigning as a Member of Parliament today, citing various differences of opinion within the party.

Atukorale said that members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna who were previously branded as corrupt politicians, have now joined the SJB, prompting her decision.

The MP announced this decision delivering a special statement in Parliament today.

“If Sajith Premadasa remained patient for another five years for the sake of his own political future, we would not have faced this challenge. I tell Sajith Premadasa, that those pushing you towards this abyss, only want to enter Parliament next time, they don’t want to make you President,” Atukorale said. (Newswire)

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