Legal action to be taken against Ranil over Batalanda report

Speaking on the first day of the parliamentary debate on the report, Minister Rathnayake stated that international assistance would be sought if necessary to ensure justice is served.

"The findings of the Batalanda Commission cannot be ignored. Those responsible must be held accountable, regardless of their status or former positions," Rathnayake emphasized during his address in Parliament.

The Batalanda Commission, established to investigate alleged human rights abuses and extrajudicial activities at the Batalanda detention center in the 1980s and 1990s, had implicated several political figures in its final report.

The Parliament also agreed to continue the debate at a future date, with the second day of discussions to be scheduled during an upcoming session.

The debate marks a significant development in the government’s pursuit of accountability and justice over past political violence, reigniting controversy around a long-standing and politically sensitive issue.