Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pillayan, has been ordered to remain in remand custody until August 4 in connection with a case being heard under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The order was issued by Batticaloa Magistrate and District Judge A. Tharshini after the suspect was produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate's Court via an online court hearing on Thursday.
The case relates to a series of killings that allegedly took place in several areas of the Batticaloa District in 2008. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed charges against Chandrakanthan and several others over five separate murder incidents that occurred during that period.
During Thursday's proceedings, the court heard matters relating to three charges connected to the killings in Kallady, along with another charge linked to the same case.
After considering the submissions presented by both parties, the Magistrate ordered that the former State Minister remain in remand custody until the next hearing scheduled for August 4.
According to court records, the charges include the fatal shooting of two individuals, including a former police officer, near the Murugan Temple in Kallady in 2008. Additional allegations relate to the fatal shooting of two other individuals on May 22, 2008, and the killing of another person in Vavuniya on August 20, 2008, allegedly carried out by an armed group.
The Criminal Investigation Department continues to prosecute the case, while the court proceedings remain ongoing.
