Pillayan granted bail after 5 years of detention under PTA

The Batticaloa High Court today granted bail to former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan  who is under remand custody over assasination of former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Joseph Pararajasingham. 

Along with him, another four suspects have been granted bail after nearly five years of detention under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Court imposed an overseas travel ban on all the suspects. 

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.