AG decided not to pursue case against Pillayan over assassination of TNA MP

The Attorney General (AG) informed the Batticaloa High Court today that the department decided to drop the case against Parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan over the assassination of former TNA Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham.

After five years in custody over the assassination, former paramilitary group leader and onetime Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and four other suspects were granted bail by the Batticaloa High Court on November 24 — exactly a month before the 15th anniversary of the cold-blooded murder.

Former Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) national coordinator and Eastern provincial councilor Edwin Silwa Krishnanantharaja, K. Kanaganayagam and Army intelligence officer M. Kaleel are among other suspects. 

Mr Chandrakanthan was arrested in 2015 when he arrived at the CID to give a statement in connection with the assassination of the late Tamil politician, Joseph Pararajasingham who was shot dead on Christmas Eve in 2005.

Earlier the Court rejected the objection raised by the lawyers representing Attorney General (AG) urging the court to not to allow Mr Chandrakanthan to take part in the meetings of the District Coordinating Committee (DDC) of Batticaloa.  Governor of Eastern province Anuradha Yahampath will also function as Co-chairperson of Batticaloa DDC.