News
FSP demands arrests of those responsible for gruesome killings at Batalanda
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has demanded that all those responsible for killings in the Batalanda torture chambers should be arrested immediately.
Addressing a rally at Anuradhapura, on Saturday, Frontline Socialist Party Education Secretary Pubudu Jagoda said that there was no time bar for the offence of murder as such the government could arrest all those accused of involvement in those killings.
“There are eyewitnesses to those crimes, and they are ready to give evidence. There is no need to waste time anymore. What is this government waiting for? Are they waiting till these eyewitnesses who are now old die?” Jagoda queried.
There are two laws under which commissions of inquiry were appointed in Sri Lanka. One was the Commissions of Inquiry Act No 17 of 1948, and the other was the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Law No 7 of 1978. A Commission of Inquiry set up under the 1948 law couldn’t recommend that a person be stripped of his or her civic rights. Power was conferred on a Commission of Inquiry under Section 9 of the 1978 law. When Chandrika appointed the Batalanda Commission of Inquiry, she ensured that Ranil Wickremesinghe would not lose his civic rights. As such, the Batalanda Commission had no power to strip anyone’s civic rights.
There have been murders. That is a fact. In Sri Lanka, the offences of murder and treason are offences that could be punished at any time. As such, there is no need to appoint more committees to make recommendations. The government must arrest the main suspects and then conduct investigations.
“We call upon the government to arrest Wickremesinghe first. The President has powers to give orders to the CID to commence the investigation process and implement the law. Then they should arrest Douglas Peiris – the senior most police officer who ran the Batalanda torture chamber. Peiris has published an obituary that he has passed away. This is another matter to be investigated. We have information that he is alive. Then they could arrest Nalin Delgoda. There are policemen and security forces members who worked there and ready to give evidence.
We have Indrananda Silva, a military photographer, who took pictures of those who had been killed. His duty was to photograph the victims on the day before they were killed. There are many servicemen and policemen who are now retired and will come forward to give evidence. They did not give evidence before the Batalanda Commission because they were in the service then. There are eyewitnesses who are ready to give evidence about killings, torture and sexual torture that took place there.
The government then should arrest Sudath Chandrasekara, who was the Private Secretary to Wickremesinghe. When he resigned from that post, he wrote a letter admitting to the killings he committed at the behest of Wickremesinghe. The letter is in his handwriting with his signature. He should be taken into custody and questioned.
“With all these facts, why does the government need the Attorney General’s instructions to arrest them? Jagoda queried.
“This is not political revenge. This is justice. This is a world known principle called transitional justice. It requires that society talks about the atrocities that took place and punishes those responsible. We demand the same,” Jagoda said.
Interdicted Deputy Director at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (29) alleged that the powers that be moved against him for seeking the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) investigation into a massive fraud at the NHSL laboratory.
Dr. Bellana said so in response to The Island query regarding the circumstances the Health Ministry interdicted him on 18 December, through a letter, as directed by the Health Committee of the Public Service (PSC) Commission. “That letter has been signed by an Additional Secretary, as Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was overseas,” Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana stated that the government had paid for reagents, contaminated or close to expiry dates, obtained from a leading local medical supplier, since 2022. He emphasised that his complaint to the CIABOC, and subsequent complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were entirely based on the issues raised by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana said that the public funds, amounting to Rs. 900 mn, had been spent on chemical reagents past expiry dates. Regardless of the intervention made by the NAO, the NHSL continued to procure supplies from the same company, Dr. Bellana said, adding that he had received the unconditional support of the civil society. Among them were Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), President of Academy of Health Professionals Ravi Kumudesh, and leader of Mage Rata Sanjaya Mahawatta.
Dr. Bellana said that he had complained about the scam to the CIABOC in June this year.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who also lodged a complaint with CIABOC, regarding the same matter, is on record as having said in September this year that the reagents had been procured over a three-year period without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. Dr. Sanjeewa has alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry dates, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.
Dr. Bellana said that had there been a proper system for CIABOC and law enforcement authorities to act on findings made by the NAO they wouldn’t have personally intervened in the NHSL laboratory matter. “Parliament should look into this. Did Parliament take up the NHSL laboratory matter at the relevant watchdog committee or at the Sectoral Oversight Committee that handled health?” Dr. Bellana asked.
Asked whether the letter that informed him of his interdiction gave any specific reason for the action taken, Dr. Bellana said the Ministry had found fault with him for speaking to the media. The irate ex-official said that he never hesitated to take a stand against injustice. “When former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was accused of corruption, pertaining to medical procurement, I condemned the Minister. Lambasted those responsible for wrongdoings.”
Dr. Bellana said that the NAO had dealt with mega crime involving the public and private sector. “That is the undeniable truth. Parliament should look into this as public money is its responsibility. Having vowed to stamp out corruption, the NPP was allowing and encouraging those who had been making money at the expense of the sick, Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana said that as many as 10,000 tests were conducted daily at the NHSL. The racketeers had been active during Aragalaya as the NHSL and the private supplier reached agreement in 2022 and the process continued even after the last presidential election, conducted in September 2024.
Dr. Bellana said that the long delay in finalising the Auditor General’s appointment exposed the government. If those holding high political office were genuinely interested in fighting corruption, they wouldn’t have allowed that Office of AG stay vacant even for a day.
Dr. Bellana noted the tough statements issued by the Bar Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Committee on Public Finance demanding the immediate appointment of AG.
Health Ministry officials were not available for comment.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
BIA unions, including those affiliated to political parties, are demanding bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries.
A group of workers yesterday (29) protested outside BIA urging the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd to increase their bonuses. They claimed that the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd., Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, had assured them that they would be paid bonuses worth five times their basic salaries.
The SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, the Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, and the SLNSS of SriLankan Airlines joined the protest.
The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has issued an urgent safety warning to residents living along the banks of the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River, as water levels in the Kotmale Reservoir are reaching maximum capacity.
According to a special weather advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology on December 26, 2025, heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas over the coming days.
In response, the Mahaweli Authority released a statement on December 27, warning that spill gates may have to be opened to manage the water flow.
Eng. A.M.A.K. Seneviratne, Resident Engineer and Deputy Director of the Kotmale Reservoir, stated that the opening of spill gates would lead to a significant rise in the water levels of both the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River.
Areas on Alert
Residents in the following Divisional Secretariat divisions are urged to remain extra vigilant:
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West and Kotmale East.
• Kandy District: Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Pasbage Korale, and Ganga Ihala Korale.
Authorities have advised the public in these low-lying and river-adjacent areas to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the protection of their property.
By S.K. Samaranayake
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Showers expected at times in the Northern, Eastern, Central, North-central and Uva provinces
Dr. Bellana: “I was removed as NHSL Deputy Director for exposing Rs. 900 mn fraud”
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