‘Our hands are clean’ – Pillayan rejects allegations of kidnappings and murder

 25 June 2022

Rajapaksa-ally and paramilitary leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, has refuted claims by an informant in his party, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), of the party’s involvement in several kidnappings and murders.

The former member reportedly provided detailed information to the UN about numerous crimes the TMVP were directly or indirectly involved in. The revelations also implicated individuals tied to the previous regime. The informant had also written to key diplomatic missions in Colombo and overseas before fleeing the country for his own safety.

The Daily Mirror notes the revelations related to the murder of Tamil MPs Joseph Pararajasingham and Nadarajah Raviraj as well as the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. 

Pillayan responded to the claims asserting that anyone can leave Sri Lanka and make false allegations to support their asylum claim.

 “We are a party which has entered the democratic process and we reject all these allegations,” claimed Pillayan.

Human rights experts and the UN have raised concerns over the ability of Sri Lanka’s domestic mechanisms to deliver on accountability.

In her written update in February, UN High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet said she “remains concerned about the continued lack of accountability for past human rights violations and recognition of victims’ rights in Sri Lanka”.

Read more here and here.