New Legal Team to Reopen Batalanda Files

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Attorney General’s Department has taken steps to revise the composition of the committee appointed to review the Batalanda Commission Report, which investigates alleged human rights violations during the 1988–1990 period.

The five-member committee, appointed by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, is chaired by Rohantha Abeysuriya, PC. The other members include:

- Additional Solicitor General Varunika Hettige
- Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Perera 
- Senior State Counsel Jayani Wegodapola
- State Counsel Shakthi Jagodaarachchi 

The committee has been tasked with examining whether the evidence presented in the 208-page Batalanda Commission Report is sufficient to initiate criminal prosecutions. 

Additionally, the committee is responsible for identifying any statute-barred offenses and determining whether further investigations are warranted.

According to the Attorney General’s Department, the committee will begin its work tomorrow and will prioritize a thorough review of the report.

If necessary, supplementary documents will also be examined.

The committee aims to submit a final report to the Attorney General promptly, based on the findings that emerge during the review.

The Batalanda Commission Report was recently forwarded to the Attorney General by the Presidential Secretariat, following directives from the President. The government has expressed its intention to take further action based on the report’s findings.

Public interest in the Batalanda Commission Report was reignited after former President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed the matter during an interview on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head” program on March 6.