A request made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to speak with former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, who is in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under a detention order, has been denied.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala confirmed that the former president had asked the CID for permission to speak with Chandrakanthan, who is currently detained.
According to reports, one of Wickremesinghe’s security officers contacted CID officials by phone to request the conversation.
Minister Wijepala said the request was denied because it is illegal for a suspect in custody to communicate by phone.
However, former Member of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila had been granted permission to meet with Chandrakanthan. Gammanpila had requested the meeting in his capacity as Chandrakanthan’s legal counsel, Minister Wijepala said.
He added that Gammanpila was recently allowed to visit the CID and speak with Chandrakanthan in the presence of CID officers.
Chandrakanthan was arrested by the CID on April 9 in Batticaloa in connection with the abduction and disappearance of a former vice chancellor of Eastern University. (Newswire)