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The Sri Lankan government has formally tabled the long-suppressed Batalanda Commission Report in Parliament, reigniting discussions on the alleged torture chambers and human rights violations that took place during the 1988–1990 period.
Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake presented the report to Parliament, announcing that it would be forwarded to the Attorney General for legal action. A two-day parliamentary debate on the findings is also scheduled.
The Batalanda Commission was established in 1995 by then-Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, with the task of investigating the illegal detention, torture, assassinations, and disappearances that took place at the infamous Batalanda Housing Scheme. The final report was handed over to Kumaratunga in 1998 and published as a sessional paper in 2000, but its recommendations were never implemented.
Addressing Parliament, Minister Bimal Ratnayake criticised the United National Party (UNP), accusing it of state-sponsored crimes, including the maintenance of the Batalanda torture chambers. He blamed the UNP-led government of 1977–1994, specifically highlighting its crackdown on dissent and its role in the July 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom as part of a broader pattern of repression.
Ratnayake also accused Kumaratunga’s government of failing to take legal action despite receiving the report more than two decades ago. He assured that under current Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, there would be no further delays in pursuing justice for the victims.
The tabling of the Batalanda Commission Report comes after a controversial interview by former president Ranil Wickremesinghe to Al Jazeera, where he faced tough questions on accountability for human rights violations.
Wickremesinghe has been directly implicated in the Batalanda scandal, with the Commission stating that he had knowledge of the torture and unlawful detentions that took place.
In response to the renewed focus on the report, Wickremesinghe’s office has announced that he will make a special statement on Sunday (16 March). According to his office, the former president will make "a special revelation regarding the facts and recommendations of the report."
The Dissanayake administration has indicated that it will take stronger action than previous governments in addressing the findings of the Batalanda Commission Report with reports that he will appoint a special committee and recommend further actions.
While the exact nature of the Attorney General’s response remains unclear, the tabling of the report has deepened scrutiny of Wickremesinghe’s legacy and could pave the way for future legal actions.