Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan says the Criminal Investigations Department’s (CID) probe against him related to British media Channel 4’s documentary on the 2019 Easter attacks, was political revenge.
Speaking to the media today, Pillayan expressed regret that a government department was conducting a probe into baseless allegations.
“Departments like the CID must work intelligently, without acting on whims of certain individuals,” he said.
The former state minister said he had informed the CID yesterday, during his 5-hour statement, that he wished to give his statement in Tamil, after which the CID informed him to report today to prepare the related language translation work.
Pillayan made the statement after reporting to the CID for the second consecutive day today to record a statement regarding the mentioning of his name in the Channel 4 documentary on the easter attacks.
In September 2023, British media, ‘Channel 4’ released a video claiming that its Dispatches have exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings.
Among the whistleblowers is Azad Maulana, the former spokesman of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), Pillayan’s political party.
Appearing in the ‘Channel 4’ video, Azad Maulana alleged that a meeting took place between Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim and the head of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sallay in the East, adding that he himself was present at the time of the meeting.
Soon after the release of the video, then State Minister of Rural Road Development Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan addressed the Parliament regarding the allegations of links to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Commenting on the revelation, Pillayan denied any links to the Easter Sunday attacks or the bombers, saying such allegations are baseless and further accused his former spokesman of telling lies to strengthen his asylum claim overseas.
Pillayan informed Parliament at the time that Azad Maulana had officially informed the TMVP and left Sri Lanka the previous year along with his family over personal issues.
Pillayan also called for international assistance to investigate not only the allegations revealed on the ‘Channel 4’ video, but also investigate Azad Maulana over his claims. (Newswire)
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