A statement from the continuously detained Pillayan regarding the Easter attack

Mount Lavinia Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara has ordered that former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias 'Pillayan', who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the disappearance of former Eastern University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ravindranath Subramaniam, be remanded until instructions are received from the Attorney General. In connection with this alleged disappearance in 2006, five suspects have so far been produced before the court as part of investigations conducted on the orders of the Inspector General of Police. Yesterday (02), the Criminal Investigation Department took steps to name Pillayan as the first suspect in this case through a further report.

Attorney Udaya Gammanpila appeared on behalf of the suspect Pillayan, who had been held under detention orders by the Criminal Investigation Department for nearly 359 days, and expressed his objection to the suspect being produced before the court under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. However, the main reason for this prolonged detention has been the investigations into the incident where the former Vice-Chancellor was abducted in a white van in Colombo and subsequently murdered.

According to information revealed during the relevant investigations, after this abduction, the murder was carried out at a torture chamber maintained in the Batticaloa area. It has been revealed that during that period, approximately five individuals, including a police officer, were murdered by them, and evidence has now confirmed that Pillayan led a part of the illegal 'white van culture'.

In addition, investigations are underway regarding a large stock of firearms provided by the government and security forces for anti-terrorist operations to the group including Karuna Amman and Pillayan, who separated from the LTTE and joined the government. Out of these weapons, which included T-56 rifles, pistols, RMGs, LMGs, mortars, and 9mm firearms, issued to approximately eight thousand people, only a limited quantity was surrendered after the war ended. The Criminal Investigation Department suspects that this large number of missing firearms may have been used for underworld activities and various murders, and information is also emerging that Pillayan and his group used these very weapons to abduct and murder their personal rivals.

Meanwhile, Pillayan has also given a secret statement before the Magistrate under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the Easter Sunday terrorist attack and his meeting with its leader, Zahran. CID sources state that investigations are progressing based on this powerful statement, given without any influence, and statements are currently being recorded from an individual named Saliya. It is noteworthy that Saliya is also represented by Pillayan's lawyer, Udaya Gammanpila.

Concurrently with this legal process, various opinions are emerging in the political arena. Views have been expressed that Maithripala Sirisena has not yet conducted a proper study regarding the Easter attack, and political criticisms have been leveled against Sajith Premadasa's dealings with the Rajapaksas through statements by individuals like Naveen Dissanayake and Nalin Fernando. Furthermore, accusations are being made regarding Sajith Premadasa's current political conduct and policies, given that he previously carried out extensive propaganda using Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando, employing the name 'Sonic Sonic' as the mastermind of the Easter attack. In contrast, critics believe that politicians like Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa consistently stand by their policies on behalf of the parties they represent. However, Pillayan's current detention period is set to end on April 04, and Mount Lavinia Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara yesterday (2) ordered Pillayan to be remanded until instructions are received from the Attorney General.

In the future, the Criminal Investigation Department is scheduled to submit a complete report and statistics on the missing firearms to the court.