A request made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hold a discussion with former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, who is currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under a detention order, has been denied.
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala confirmed that the former President had contacted the CID through one of his security officers, seeking permission to speak with Chandrakanthan over the phone.
However, Minister Wijepala stated that the request was rejected on legal grounds, as it is prohibited to engage in telephone conversations with individuals held in CID custody under a detention order.
In contrast, former Member of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila was recently granted permission to meet with Chandrakanthan, having submitted a request in his capacity as legal counsel for the detained former state minister.
Minister Wijepala noted that the meeting took place at the CID premises in the presence of CID officials.
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan was arrested by the CID on April 9 in Batticaloa in connection with the abduction and disappearance of Professor Sivasubramaniam Ravindranath, former Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern University. Following his arrest, the CID obtained a 90-day detention order to facilitate further investigations.
