Pillayan Remanded Until July 13 Over Five Murder Cases

by Staff Writer 30-06-2026 | 4:51 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pillayan has been remanded until July 13 by the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court.

The order was issued when a case related to five murders reported in several areas of the Eastern Province was taken up for hearing today (30).

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had previously submitted a progress report to court on the ongoing investigations into the alleged killings in 2008, on June 15 2026.

The details presented to court relate to several incidents, include the killing of two individuals near a playground adjacent to the Murugan Kovil on January 9, 2008, where the victims were shot using a T-56 firearm.

Shooting and killing of two individuals along the main road in Kattankudy on May 22, 2008.

The killing of Alagathurai Dharmalingam, a resident of Koththiyapola in the Vavunathivu Police Division, who was allegedly shot dead by an unidentified armed group.

The magistrate also ordered that Pillayan, who has been named as the third suspect in the case, be produced before court at the next hearing.

Accordingly, he was produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court this morning.