Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has launched a major crackdown to arrest six individuals suspected of operating under former Minister Shivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pillayan, over a series of killings, abductions and enforced disappearances in the Eastern Province.
CID sources confirmed that fresh leads emerged following lengthy interrogations of both Pillayan and former Eastern Provincial Council member K. Pushpakumar, alias Iniyabharathi. Based on their statements, two suspects connected to the crimes were arrested last week in Batticaloa and Keselwatte, Colombo.
Investigations have revealed chilling details of an armed group allegedly led by Pillayan between 2007 and 2008. The group is accused of carrying out a wave of political assassinations, enforced disappearances and abductions targeting government officials, rival politicians, and civilians across Batticaloa and the wider Eastern Province.
Authorities believe at least six more individuals who were part of this network remain at large, and efforts are underway to track them down. The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in revisiting one of Sri Lanka’s darkest chapters of post-war violence, with security officials determined to bring long-delayed accountability to light.
