Gonawala Sunil's Ties to UNP and Batalanda

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe responded to the comments made regarding the controversial Batalanda Commission Report, a topic that resurfaced following his appearance on Al Jazeera's Head to Head program.

According to Wickremesinghe, the primary reason for providing housing in the Batalanda housing complex to police officers was the attack on the Sapugaskanda Police Station.

"During this period of terror, the Sapugaskanda Police Station was attacked, and the Office-in-Charge was killed. At that time, Deputy Minister of Defense Ranjan Wijayaratne contacted me and requested that the vacant houses in the housing complex be provided for the security of military and police officers. Accordingly, the then Commissioner took steps to hand over the houses to Nalin Delgoda of the Kelani Police Division," said Wickremesinghe on 16th March.

The Batalanda Commission Report revealed several details about this attack, that was mentioned by the Former President.

On July 17, 1989, at 2:55 AM, an explosion occurred on the upper floor of the Sapugaskanda Police Station.

Simultaneously, gunfire was directed at the building from the south side, and several individuals entered the police station by jumping over the wall.

The then Officer-in-Charge, Lalith Mahanama, and his team retaliated, but one of the attackers entered the OIC's room and shot him dead.

The attackers retreated and fled due to the police and military counterattacks.

At that time, Rohitha Priyadarshana, the Officer-in-Charge of the Crimes Division, who was away on duty, arrived at the police station with his team and launched a counterattack.

Three police officers, including the Officer-in-Charge, were killed in the attack, and two armed attackers also died.

Investigations into the two deceased armed men who attacked the Police Station, revealed interesting details about the attack.

One of them was identified as Sumith Perera, alias Kaluwa, whose father was Gonawala Piyadasa Perera.

Piyadasa had seven brothers, including Sam, Harold, Vincent, Cyril, Shelton, Tudor, and Sunil Perera, also known as the notorious Gonawala Sunil.

The Batalanda Commission Report includes a special note on Gonawala Sunil, the uncle of Sumith, who died in the attack on the Sapugaskanda Police Station.

"It is well known that Gonawala Sunil was an active supporter of the United National Party (UNP). He was also the uncle of Sumith Perera, known as Kaluwa. According to Ranil Wickremesinghe, Gonawala Sunil was his active supporter and served as a regional leader of the UNP. Sunil had a close relationship with Wickremesinghe and frequently invited him to parties at his house. It was customary for Sunil to go to Katunayake Airport to welcome Wickremesinghe upon his return to Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe acknowledged this when shown a photograph of him with Sunil and others at the airport."

The Batalanda Commission Report also mentions the connection between Gonawala Sunil and the Batalanda torture chamber.

"According to Vincent Perera, the caretaker of the tourist bungalow where Wickremesinghe resided, Gonawala Sunil frequently visited the bungalow while Wickremesinghe was living there."

The Batalanda Commission report states that Gonawala Sunil was pardoned by the government while serving a sentence for abusing the daughter of  an individual identified as Dr. Paul.

Despite numerous criminal charges, he was appointed as a Justice Of The peace, affecting the entire country.

The Batalanda Commission found no evidence that Gonawala Sunil or his family members were affiliated with any political party other than the UNP.

Shelton Perera, another uncle of Sumith Perera and brother of Gonawala Sunil, was also arrested in connection with the attack on the Sapugaskanda Police Station.

Shelton's wife brought this to Wickremesinghe's attention, and Shelton was promptly released from custody, as reported by the Batalanda Commission.

Wickremesinghe attempted to justify the provision of housing to police officers in the Batalanda housing complex due to the attack on the Sapugaskanda Police Station.

However, the commission report indicated that no thorough investigation or effort to uncover the truth about the attack was made.

The report noted that suspects were either released or escaped, with no further action taken.

At the time of the attack, Rohitha Priyadarshana was the OIC of the Crime Division. He was a skilled crime investigator who closely monitored the crimes committed by Gonawala Sunil's family.

On February 8, 1990, Tudor Perera, a brother of Gonawala Sunil, was abducted by Rohitha and his team, according to a complaint made by Tudor's wife to Wickremesinghe.

Rohitha Priyadarshana was suspended on February 20 and is believed to have been murdered.

Are these crimes to be hidden?

Should justice not be served?