Ex-Military Officer Reveals Horrors of Batalanda Torture Chambers

COLOMBO (News 1st); On September 21, 1995, the Batalanda Presidential Commission of Inquiry was established, revealing numerous details about the torture chamber operated at the Batalanda housing complex during the 1988/90 period.

Survivors of torture identified the houses used for their mistreatment before the commission.

These details are clearly documented in the commission's report.

House 2/2 in the complex was used by Ranil Wickremesinghe from 1983 to April 1989 as a tourist bungalow under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Employment.

From April 1989 to 1994, Wickremesinghe used the same house as his official residence while serving as the Minister of Industries.

House 2/1 was allocated for Wickremesinghe's security personnel, while House 2/3 was assigned to a ministry under his purview.

Vincent Fernando, who served as Wickremesinghe's bungalow caretaker, mysteriously died a few days before Wickremesinghe was to testify before the commission.

House 1/7 was also used by Wickremesinghe's security officers, and House B2 served as his office.

A person who escaped torture identified this house before the commission, which was a significant revelation.

House B1 was used by Wickremesinghe's security personnel, and Police Inspector Sudath Chandrasekara, Wickremesinghe's personal security officer, used House B7.

House B8, located nearby, was used by the security personnel of Suprintendent Of Police Douglas Peiris.

Earl Sugi Perera testified before the commission that he was tortured in House B8.

The report also mentions that Wickremesinghe, as a minister, had ordered additional houses to be allocated to a police unit.

At a media briefing, former military officer Indrananda de Silva revealed details about the events at Batalanda.

"I was a former photographer for the military police. I was assigned to photograph the torture chambers and compile an album of all the individuals who were killed. This album was shown to suspects to identify the victims. The task assigned to me was to photograph individuals the day before they were killed. Some were consuming brnady as they enjoyed watching the cruel torture. Such people later became presidents of this country. The person who revealed everything about the Batalanda torture chamber committed suicide, but we know it wasn't a suicide. We know what happened when Douglas Peiris tried to cover things up. Wijeyadasa Liyanarachchi, who exited court, was taken to Tangalle, kept at the SSP's house, and then brought to Batalanda after being brutally tortured. Lawyers boycotted court and filed a habeas corpus petition, demanding his presentation in court. Ranil had to hospitalize Liyanarachchi, who died the same day. His post-mortem revealed 19 broken ribs and 307 injuries. Wijeyadasa Liyanarachchi, who fought for the poor, was brutally beaten and killed at the Batalanda torture chamber."

The Batalanda report has resurfaced in public discourse following a recent interview with Al Jazeera, where Ranil Wickremesinghe was questioned about the report during the "Head to Head" program.

Wickremesinghe repeatedly stated that the report was never presented to Parliament.

Former BBC journalist Frances Harrison highlighted the report during the program.