Namal Responds Swiftly to Allegations Linked to Easter Sunday Attacks

(Sujith Mangala De Silva)

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa says that the government should focus on delivering meaningful results for the people of the country instead of concentrating on political dramas and media headlines.

He made these remarks through his “X” account in response to media reports stating that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had informed court that he had visited Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias “Pillayan,” at the Batticaloa Prison following the Easter Sunday attacks.

Through his statement on X, Namal Rajapaksa strongly criticized both the government and the CID.

The remarks emerged during proceedings before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara on Wednesday (May 20), in relation to the case involving former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay, who is currently being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Appearing on behalf of the CID, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed court that following the Easter Sunday attacks, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, and Namal Rajapaksa had visited Batticaloa Prison to meet Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan. According to the CID, assurances had allegedly been given that “he would be released within a week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa became President.”

Responding to the CID’s official statement, Namal Rajapaksa acknowledged that he had visited Pillayan while he was imprisoned during 2018/19. However, he stressed that it was not a secret visit made after the Easter attacks, but rather a routine political visit to meet a member of his political alliance during both the pre- and post-attack periods.

He further stated that prison records could confirm the visits at any time, recalling that Pillayan’s TMVP party was part of their political alliance during that period. Namal Rajapaksa also argued that if CID officers had travelled all the way to France merely to confirm that he had met Pillayan, it amounted to a serious waste of public funds.

He pointed out that Pillayan is not currently being detained over allegations related to the Easter Sunday attacks. He further accused the National People’s Power (NPP) government of using the tragedy as a “media spectacle” to target political opponents.

Namal Rajapaksa emphasized that such political dramas cause grave injustice to the real victims of the Easter Sunday attacks and their families. He stated that he is fully prepared to face any open, transparent, and fair investigation, and to extend maximum cooperation to the CID. He also urged the government to move away from political theatrics and media sensationalism and instead focus on achieving meaningful outcomes for the people of the country.

His X statement reads as follows:

“It is no secret that during the period of 2018/19, when TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan was imprisoned, I visited him. In fact, prison records regarding those visits are available whenever necessary. At that time, he was a partner in our alliance, having contested both the 2015 Presidential Election and the 2018 Local Government Elections with us.

It has now been revealed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has travelled as far as France in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. This raises serious questions regarding the priorities of the government. If officials travelled such a great distance merely to confirm that I visited Pillayan, it is clearly a waste of public funds.

To my knowledge, Pillayan is not currently being detained in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks. If so, who exactly is the government attempting to convince through these media spectacles?

The National People’s Power (NPP) has, on several occasions, circulated different narratives regarding the Easter Sunday attacks. If the government is now attempting to use this tragedy to target political opponents, it would amount to a grave injustice to the victims and their family members who are still seeking real answers and justice.

We are always prepared to face any fair investigation and will extend our fullest cooperation to the CID in resolving any suspicions openly and transparently. The government should focus on delivering meaningful results for the people of our country instead of concentrating on political dramas and media headlines.”