By unusuma.lk on (LK time)
The ‘Batalanda’ Commission report was submitted to Parliament today (14) by Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Ratnayake.
The Final Observation Notes of the 159-page document highlight that 1988-1990 was among the darkest, most violent periods in Sri Lanka’s history, with a wave of terror spreading across the nation. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led a widespread insurgency, while state and non-state actors responded with harsh countermeasures, often beyond legal limits.
The Batalanda Commission confirms that covert forces, operating outside government control, engaged in extrajudicial acts with implicit approval from law enforcement and state officials. At times, these shadow teams collaborated with security forces, carrying out kidnappings, assassinations, and other unlawful tactics to crush the insurgency. The report states that while the government aimed to eliminate the rebellion, it ignored legal boundaries in doing so.
“Evidence submitted highlights the government’s failure to prevent extrajudicial killings and its direct involvement in protecting offenders. A notable case revealed that a senior police officer, implicated in journalist Richard de Zoysa’s murder, was shielded from arrest due to interference by the then Deputy Minister of State Security. In another instance, state funds were allegedly used to pay legal fees for three police officers accused of killing lawyer Wijedasa Liyanarachchi,” the report emphasised.
“While the JVP’s insurgency caused hundreds of deaths, including politicians, police officers, and civilians, the government’s countermeasures should have followed legal frameworks. Instead, state actors resorted to terror tactics, with ruling party officials sometimes directing police operations or participating in crackdowns. The notorious Batalanda torture site remains a chilling reminder of these brutal excesses,” it added.
The commission condemned the government’s methods, stating:
“No matter how extreme the JVP’s violence, the state should never have endorsed extrajudicial actions. The use of terror to combat terrorism not only eradicated insurgents but also took innocent lives, including youth uninvolved in any illegal activities.”
Key Commission Recommendations
The Batalanda Commission outlined several measures to prevent future violations and ensure law enforcement remains accountable:
- Legal Reforms: Establish a Code of Conduct for politicians in law enforcement during emergencies and amend constitutional laws to strengthen accountability.
- Judicial Oversight: Magistrates should investigate reports of illegal detention centres and human rights violations, ensuring cases are prosecuted.
- Police Accountability: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) must thoroughly investigate officers involved in abduction, murder, and unlawful detentions, taking strict disciplinary actions.
- Strengthening the Judiciary: The Supreme Court should be granted power to impose civil rights deprivations on repeat violators of fundamental rights, ensuring no impunity prevails.
