Former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, known as Pillayan, remains in remand custody until 13 July following an order from the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court today. The court designated him as the third suspect in connection with the murders of five individuals across the Kaladi, Kattankudy, and Kannankuda areas.

The Criminal Investigation Department informed the court that the first suspect in these cases fled the country, while the second suspect appeared before the court today while in remand.

Police records indicate the first incident occurred on 9 January 2008, involving the fatal shooting of two individuals, including a former police officer, at a playground near the Murugan Kovil in Kaladi using a T-56 firearm.

Further investigations attribute two additional deaths to the suspects on 22 May 2008, following a shooting on the main street within the Kattankudy police division. A final incident reported on 20 August 2008 involved the fatal shooting of an individual in the Kannankuda area of Konthiyapola, within the Vavunathivu police division.

The Criminal Investigation Department identified three primary suspects in these crimes. The department noted that the second suspect remained in their custody from 13 August 2025 and 13 November 2025, respectively, to facilitate further investigations.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan currently faces remand in connection with a separate case regarding the murder of a former Vice-Chancellor of Batticaloa University.