Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, widely known as "Pillayan", was further remanded until July 24 by the Batticaloa Magistrate's Court in connection with a case involving five murders that allegedly took place in Batticaloa District in 2008.
The order was issued by Batticaloa Magistrate A. Dharshini after the suspect, who is currently being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), was produced before court via video conferencing. Santhirakanthan has been named as the third suspect in the case, which was initially filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) before the Matale Magistrate's Court.
During the hearing, the CID informed the court that investigations into a series of fatal shootings carried out with T-56 assault rifles in 2008 had identified Santhirakanthan as a suspect. The charges relate to the killing of two individuals, including a former police officer, near the Kallady Murugan Temple on January 9, 2008; the fatal shooting of two people along Kattankudy Main Road on May 22, 2008; and the killing of another individual during a shooting incident in the Kothiyapula area of Vavunathivu on August 20, 2008.
Witnesses appeared before the court during the proceedings, while two defence attorneys represented Santhirakanthan and made submissions on his behalf. After considering the arguments presented, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect remain in remand custody until July 24 as investigations continue.
The court also postponed a separate land dispute case involving Kallady until October 29.
