Batalanda: Testimony Sheds Light on Dark Past

COLOMBO (News 1st); Another grave revelation from the Batalanda Commission Report has come to light, shedding further insight into the atrocities committed at the Batalanda torture chambers.

Among the 14,000 pages of the Commission's report, a letter submitted by Vasala Jayasekara, a state bank official, has surfaced, detailing his harrowing experience.

Excerpt:

"On October 17, 1990, while working at the Kelaniya branch of the People's Bank, was taken by the Peliyagoda police and handed over to Douglas Peiris' death squad."

According to Jayasekara's testimony, he was stripped naked, beaten, and subjected to severe torture, including having chili powder thrown into his eyes and needles inserted under his fingernails.

After being held at the police station for three days, Jayasekara was transferred to the Batalanda torture chambers, where he endured further inhumane treatment.

Excerpt:

"Douglas Peiris took me to the Batalanda torture chambers, where I was brutally beaten and tortured for three or four days. I was then held at the Peliyagoda police station for several months. On February 15, 1991, I was released without any charges after paying a bribe of 50,000 rupees. Later, I had to pay an additional 25,000 rupees to obtain the necessary documents to resume my job."

Previously, Earl Sugi Perera, also known as Sydney, was similarly abducted and extorted for money.

Senior Police Officer S.C. Pathirana submitted this letter to the Commission, revealing the demand for a 50,000 rupee ransom.

These abductions and extortion incidents occurred during the same period when Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Rohana Wijeweera was assassinated.

Were these abductions and extortions carried out for personal gain or self-defense?

We continue to question whether these incidents will be thoroughly investigated and justice served to the victims.