Justice After 30 Years: Batalanda Report Finally Sees Light of Day!

COLOMBO (News 1st); Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake, informed Parliament today (14) that the controversial Batalanda Commission report will be referred to the Attorney General for further legal action.

He made these remarks while presenting the Batalanda Commission report to Parliament.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake tabled the Batalanda Commission report following a comprehensive explanation of how the rulers who came to power in 1977 acted, leading to the unfortunate situation in the country during the 1980s.

The massive violence against the Tamil people and political opponents in Sri Lanka in 1977.

The enactment of draconian laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1978, which implemented anti-democratic laws.

The dismissal of 100,000 state employees who engaged in a labor struggle in 1980.

The blatant rigging of the Development Council elections in Jaffna in 1981 and the burning of the Jaffna Library.

The extension of parliamentary power for six years through a fraudulent referendum instead of holding parliamentary elections on time.

The orchestration of a racial massacre against the Tamil people during the Black July of 1983 by ministers of the then United National Party government.

The suppression of several leftist parties, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, using the same Black July.

Minister Rathnayake explained how the youth of the country were subjected to oppression and repression due to the continuous anti-democratic and repressive practices of the government that came to power in 1977.

He stated that the new government elected in 1994 aimed to bring justice for the repressive crimes that occurred over 17 years and that the public expected the Batalanda Commission to fulfill this task.

"On September 21, 1995, the Batalanda Commission was established by an order from then-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to investigate the establishment and operation of illegal detention centers and torture chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme. After several extensions, the final report was submitted on May 21, 1998, by the Commission's Secretary, G.K.J. Perera, to the Presidential Secretary. This letter confirms the submission," elaborated the Minister.

'The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda, along with related documents and files, was handed over to the Director of the National Archives on May 20, 1998. Copies of the handover list and the form are attached for necessary action. G.K.J. Perera, Secretary, Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda,' the minister read out the letter to the house.

"Honorable Speaker, this report and the thousands of pages of evidence it is based on are largely composed of testimonies from individuals who endured immense suffering in these torture chambers. Despite the risk to their lives, they came forward to provide evidence while their tormentors held powerful positions, protected by their allies.Additionally, thousands of parents, siblings, and loved ones, including individuals like Manorani Saravanamuttu, who endured the pain of having their family members brutally abducted, tortured, and killed, came forward to testify before the Commission. They did so with the hope that justice would be served for their loved ones. I believe you will acknowledge that these individuals, despite their deep emotional scars, bravely relived their trauma to ensure that justice is served," said the Leader Of The House.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake, Leader of the House, emphasized in Parliament that no legal action has been taken against the crimes revealed in the Batalanda Commission report, which was based on testimonies and evidence provided by the public during a period of severe repression.

"It is clear that the final report of the Batalanda Commission should have been handed over to then-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on May 22, 1998. However, despite a copy being sent to the National Archives, it is now evident why she did not forward a copy to the Attorney General at that time. Additionally, a letter dated March 16, 2000, from the Additional Secretary to the President, W.J.S. Karunaratne, to the Government Printer, instructed the printing of 500 Sinhala and 250 Tamil copies of the report for public release by March 27. Astonishingly, not one of these 750 printed copies was sent to the Attorney General."

"It is clear that those who called for this report neither punished the perpetrators nor implemented its significant recommendations but instead used it as a political tool during elections. The main accused recently stated on Al Jazeera that the report was never presented to Parliament. Thousands of men and women risked their lives, reliving their trauma to provide evidence to the Commission, hoping for justice for their loved ones who were brutally abducted, tortured, and killed. Despite the passage of 35 years since 1980, 30 years since the Commission was established, and 25 years since the report was released, my party and the Cabinet have entrusted me with the responsibility of presenting this report to Parliament and making it public," he added.

Despite three decades having passed, Minister Bimal Rathnayake underscored the commitment to enforcing the law against the crimes revealed in the Batalanda Commission report.

"The tears of the generation that struggled and the immense suffering they endured cannot be fully captured by this 208-page report. Although this report represents only a fraction of the pain and suffering of the young people and their loved ones who were killed, I take this opportunity to thank all the officials of the Commission and everyone who contributed to compiling it as fairly as possible."

"For thirty-five years, those who committed crimes against the public have managed to evade justice, using their power and wealth to suppress the people. However, on September 21, 2024, the report that had been hidden in the dark archives of the Presidential Secretariat for twenty-five years finally saw the light of day. Today, I present this report to Parliament, bearing the heavy burden of the suffering and struggles of generations, including my comrade Wijayadasa Srinath, who sacrificed their lives for the dream of a just society."

"As Túpac Amaru II, the leader of the anti-imperialist national liberation movement in the Andes region of South America, declared before his executioners, 'I will return, and I will be millions.' Similarly, the millions of Sri Lankans who have united to continue the struggle initiated by our past generations have achieved the first victory in this battle. Thus, I am able to present this report, to the people and the world." 

The government and the cabinet have reached a policy decision to act on the Batalanda Commission report to ensure that such a barbaric period never takes place again. 

The report will be directed to the Attorney General, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will appoint a special committee to provide advice and proposals on future actions regarding the report.

The government also plans to engage in a two-day debate on the report at an appropriate time. 

Additionally, the Batalanda Commission report will be made available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, and printed copies will be provided for the perusal of members of Parliament and the public.

There are 28 evidence volumes related to the commission, which will be produced in Parliament in due course, revealed the Leader Of The House.

The report, which investigates events from the 1988 to 1990 period, has sparked renewed discussion following comments made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a recent interview on Al Jazeera's "Head to Head."