Kidnapped, Tortured, and Extorted: The Dark Secrets of Batalanda

COLOMBO (News 1st); A renewed discussion has emerged regarding the infamous Batalanda torture chamber, where thousands of young people were illegally abducted, tortured, killed, or disappeared during the 1988/90 period.

This discussion was sparked by comments made by Ranil Wickremesinghe during an interview with Al Jazeera.

A report on the Batalanda torture chamber, prepared by a Presidential Commission, has now been submitted to Parliament and is scheduled for debate on April 10.

The report reveals numerous crimes committed under the guise of suppressing insurgent activities.

Here's another story from the Batalanda Report.

Wasala Jayasekara was a clerk at a state bank branch in Kelaniya.

On October 16, 1990, an armed group entered the bank and stole approximately two hundred thousand rupees from the vault.

Jayasekara, who had nine years of service experience, was arrested on October 18, suspected of being involved in the robbery.

Wasala Jayasekara was taken to the Peliyagoda police station and presented before Assistant Superintendent of Police Douglas Peiris.

Later, Jayasekara testified before the Batalanda Commission, stating that he had no involvement in the robbery and that Douglas Peiris had assaulted him.

According to Jayasekara's testimony, he was taken to the upper floor of the police station, stripped naked, and beaten by a group of police officers.

During this time, chili powder was put in his eyes, and his fingers were pricked with pins.

After being detained at the police station for three days, Jayasekara was taken to the Batalanda torture chamber.

In his testimony before the commission, Jayasekara stated that when he was taken there, several people were lying naked on the ground, writhing in pain.

Jayasekara was taken to a room in one of the houses and stripped naked again.

He testified that while he was imprisoned in the room, he heard people being beaten and screaming in pain.

A few days later, Jayasekara was taken out of the house, put into a vehicle, and brought back to the Peliyagoda police station.

He was later presented to the court.

Jayasekara told the magistrate that he had been beaten and was urinating blood.

The court ordered that the suspect be presented to a doctor and a judicial medical officer. On February 15, 1991, the police informed the court that there was no evidence against the suspect, and he was released.

Although no lawyer had appeared for the suspect until then, on June 3, lawyer Anil Gunawardena appeared for him.

According to later revelations, Wasala Jayasekara's father was informed by Sergeant Upali Jayasekara to meet lawyer Anil Gunawardena if he wanted his son to be released from prison.

The sergeant informed Jayasekara's father to meet the lawyer on Waragoda Road in Kelaniya.

Jayasekara's father met the lawyer, who demanded fifty thousand rupees, promising to secure Wasala's release.

The money was needed to be given to Assistant Superintendent Of Police Douglas Peiris, according to the lawyer.

Wasala Jayasekara was released after this process.

Previously, Earl Sugie Perera, also known as Sydney, was kidnapped and money was extorted in a similar manner.

These kidnappings and extortion attempts occurred while Rohana Wijeweera, the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, was also assassinated.

Shouldn't these incidents be properly investigated and justice served to the victims?

Shouldn't proper steps be taken to prevent such barbaric conditions from recurring?