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.
The Navy taking prompt action were able to douse a fire that broke out on a fishing trawler at the Galle Fisheries Harbour on 14 Apr 25.
The blaze was first spotted by personnel on board SLNS Prathapa, stationed nearby. Acting swiftly, a diving team from the Southern Naval Command, along with harbour security personnel, rushed to the scene.
Their initial efforts focused on separating the trawler that had caught fire to prevent the flames from spreading. With the situation under partial control, the fire extinguishing system of SLNS Prathapa was activated, successfully dousing the remaining flames, through coordinated efforts of the diving and harbour security personnel.
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Heat index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 16 April 2025, valid for 17 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the table below and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
The government, in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Bar Association (BASL), has put in place a system to check lawyers entering selected courts. This follows the killing of Ganemulle Sanjeewa by an underworld hitman, masquerading as a lawyer, in one of the Magistrate Courts at Hulftsdorp, on the morning of 19 February.
Responding to The Island queries in this regard, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday (16) confirmed the new security arrangement. Minister Nanayakkara, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, declined to elaborate.
Although the police apprehended the suspected assassin, a couple of hours later, the woman, who smuggled in the firearm used in the killing, also masquerading as a lawyer, is still at large.
Newly elected BASL President, Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, said that scanners had been installed at selected places in line with the security arrangements introduced, following the 19 February shooting in a court. Amarasuriya said so responding to The Island query regarding the post-Hulftsdorp Court complex shooting developments.
The BASL Chief emphasised the pivotal importance of ensuring, what he called, a hassle-free environment for law officers, regardless of security checks necessitated by the latest shooting. Amarasuriya said that security measures should be in place in accordance with threat assessments pertaining to cases taken up at various courts.
The first courtroom killing took place in Nov. 1991 when Sub Inspector Dhammika Amarasena, who had been interdicted over the Wavulkelle massacre, was shot dead while inside the Attanagalle Magistrate court. Amarasena’s father-in-law, who had been seated next to the interdicted policeman, was also killed.
The second courtroom shooting happened in January 2004 when an Army deserter shot dead Dhamamika Amarasinghe inside the Hulftsdorp court complex. Although Dhammika Amarasinghe’s killer gained entry to the court, posing off as a law student, authorities never implemented a comprehensive security plan. However, in the wake of Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s killing, acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, who is also a lawyer, underscored the need to check law officers.
The BASL President said that they were still in the developing stage of the security set up, taking into consideration views expressed by various stakeholders. Referring to Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s assassin carrying a forged BASL identity card, Amarasuriya stressed the need to use technology in counter measures to thwart such practices.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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