-By Political Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -18.March.2025, 10.50 PM) In an unexpected turn of events, Sri Lanka’s self-proclaimed legal luminary, Udaya Gammanpila, has decided to throw himself into the raging fire of the Batalanda Torture Chamber controversy—not as a whistleblower, but as an impromptu defense attorney for former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Yes, the same Ranil he once accused of being a Western puppet, a Modi cheerleader, and the architect of economic doom. Now, in a plot twist worthy of a political soap opera, Gammanpila has emerged to assure the nation that the Batalanda Commission report has no legal standing.
Let’s pause for a moment to appreciate the irony. The Batalanda Commission, established with Presidential Commission Powers, had the full authority to investigate human rights abuses, make legal recommendations, and even suggest actions against individuals involved in the alleged torture and disappearances during the late 1980s. But, according to Gammanpila, none of this matters—because, well, he says so.
One must wonder where Gammanpila honed his legal wisdom. Perhaps in the same place where he allegedly falsified stock certifications, leading to his infamous entanglement with an Australian investor. The man, who has struggled with his own credibility issues, now wants us to believe that a Presidential Commission’s findings hold no weight. If that’s the case, should we also dismiss every other Presidential Commission in history? Or is this a special favor for Ranil Wickremesinghe?
Ranil himself has been quite the Houdini on this matter. During an interview on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head, he categorically denied the existence of the Batalanda Commission report. Enter Francis, a BBC journalist, who dramatically pulled out the document live on air—exposing Ranil’s convenient memory loss.
Then came excuse number two: Ranil claimed the report was never tabled in Parliament. However, records indicate that it was indeed "sessioned", meaning it is available for discussion. Now, with an NPP-majority Parliament on the horizon, this report could easily be revived, debated, and acted upon. Gammanpila may have unwittingly reminded the opposition of a golden opportunity to finally hold Ranil accountable.
While Gammanpila continues his legal acrobatics, the families of Batalanda’s victims are reportedly exploring civil lawsuits. Unlike criminal cases, civil suits don’t need parliamentary approval or government intervention. And here’s the real kicker—these lawsuits can be filed in any country where human rights violations are recognized under universal jurisdiction.
In other words, Ranil may soon be seeing more courtrooms than conference halls, and for that, he has Gammanpila’s unsolicited defense to thank. Perhaps it’s time for the former President to return the favor—a cozy diplomatic posting, maybe?
In Sri Lankan politics, enemies can become allies overnight, and Gammanpila’s sudden U-turn proves just that. But no matter how desperately he tries to rewrite history, the Batalanda report is back in the limelight. And this time, there’s nowhere to hide.
-By Political Correspondent
---------------------------
by (2025-03-18 17:20:42)
Read 14118 Times
Leave a Reply
0 discussion on this news