The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court of fresh developments in a series of five killings that took place in the Eastern Province in 2008, naming former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pilleyan, as one of the suspects.
According to court submissions made on June 15, the case relates to multiple fatal shootings allegedly carried out using T-56 assault rifles in several locations across Batticaloa District.
The CID stated that the latest action follows extensive investigations conducted over several years into the incidents.
Investigators informed the court that the killings under investigation include the shooting deaths of two individuals, including a former police officer, near a sports ground close to a Murugan temple in Kalady, Batticaloa, on January 9, 2008.
The investigation also covers the fatal shooting of two individuals on a main road within the Kattankudy Police Division on May 22, 2008, as well as the killing of another person in the Kottiyapola–Kannankuda area of Vavunathivu on August 20, 2008.
The CID has identified three suspects in connection with the incidents. Authorities informed court that the first suspect had reportedly left Sri Lanka before investigations began and is believed to be residing overseas.
The other two suspects had previously been arrested and detained under detention orders for questioning by the CID. Following their production before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court, they were remanded by court order.
Court records show that Pilleyan has been named as the third suspect in all five homicide investigations.
He is currently being held in remand custody in connection with a separate ongoing case involving the killing of a former Vice Chancellor of Eastern University.
The Magistrate has directed prison authorities to produce Pilleyan before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court on the next scheduled hearing date.
Further investigations into the killings are being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department.
