Channel4: Pillayan slams ex-spokesperson, ready to file a criminal complaint

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's State Minister of Rural Road Development, Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan who was mentioned in the Channel4 program on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, said that hea would be filing a criminal complaint with the country's police after consulting the Inspector General of Police.

Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan on Wednesday (6) attempted to file a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department over the allegations made via Channel4.

"The officials informed me to consult the police chief and hand over the complaint with his approval. I have obtained an appointment for Thursday (7). I will speak with the IGP and hand over the documents," he told reporters outside the country's apex crime investigation body.

Speaking in Parliament earlier in the day,Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan said that Hanzeer Azad Maulana, the individual who makes the allegations on the Channel4 program, worked with him and his organization, and in order to secure asylum and some form of stability in life, he is engaged in the spread of false propaganda. 

"He had officially got permission from our organization to migrate with his family, citing that he cannot live here, and needs to solve some issues. After going overseas a year ago, he made this controversial statement. We are well aware of what Channel 4 has done to our country, and our people in the past," said the State Minister.

"From 2015 to 2020 I was in prison. It is astounding if an act like this can be carried out from within prison walls," he added.

The State Minister said that Hanzeer Azad Maulana should also be investigated by an international investigation body, as he had admitted that he attended the first meeting with Zaharan. 

"Therefore, as the Opposition Leader said, we must call for an international inquiry," he told the parliament.