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Message: <blockquote data-quote="toiya" data-source="post: 19454266" data-attributes="member: 15009">Demons of Batalanda: Who was behind them?By Dharman Wickremaratne                       It was the time when terror enveloped the whole of Sri Lanka. The JVP’s second insurgency was raging. Many were the sacrifices made to appease the demons in human form. They were celebrating and enjoying life while murder squads under their direction were roaming the country looking for prey.Torture chambers were setup at different places. People died by the thousands after suffering brutal torture. Bodies of victims were seen everywhere. They were burnt or dumped in rivers and canals. The buildings which housed the torture chambers were (1) state institutions, (2) private houses which were rented (3) public places and (4) housing complexes.Outside Colombo the infamous ones were at Eliyakanda Matara, Pelawatte, Mahaweli Housing Scheme opposite the Embilipitiya National School, Soranatota Estate Kalutara, Walawwatta Galle, Community Centre Angunukolapelessa, Ekanayake Medirigiriya, Pelvehera Government Farm Dambulla, Haliela Motors Garage Badulla, Polwatte Chilaw, Weligama Camp, Thalalla Workers Vocational Training Centre Matara, Hilltop Galle, Kotigala Galle, Unagaswala Karandeniya, Bombuwala Kalutara, Siyambalanduwa Monaragala, Muthukandiya Project office near 4th Mile Post Ampara, Polgolla Cooperative School, Batheegama Estate, Wickramasinghe Bangalow Kegalle, Beragala Summer Fashion Garment Factory Haputale, Nuwara Eliya Town Hall, near the Syambala tree across the river close to the Pallekela Camp (today a hotel has come up there), Wehera Kurunegala and Lindula Tea Factory among other places.<img src="http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/dhraman250705..jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/dharman250702..jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Ranil Wickramesinghe.Since Fertiliser Corporation was continuously suffering loses the Government decided to close it down on a proposal made by Industries Minister Cyril Mathew in 1984. But the foreign company which assisted in establishing the corporation did not welcome the decision.  Again in 1986 the then Industries Minister Denzil Fernando gave Asoka Senanayake the power to terminate its operations.  The foreign technicians who were occupying the housing complex left Sri Lanka during the first half of the 1980s.  Thereafter senior government officials came to occupy some of the housing units there. Others were rented out to Ceylon Electricity Board officials and the officials of a private security firm.  Another section was officially released to the military in 1985 for setting up an Army camp.It did not take long for the horrors of Batalanda to be heard across the Kelani Valley.  The torturers and murderers were enjoying political patronage but their crimes unexpectedly came to public attention when several detainees escaped from the place leading to legal action.The PA Government which came to power in 1994 appointed a Presidential Commission to investigate the incidents at Batalanda.  The commission probed the running of the illegal detention centre and torture chamber at the Batalanda housing complex from January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1990.  The Commission began its sittings under Appeal Court Judge Justice Dharmasiri Jayawickrema at the Colombo High Court on September 21, 1995. The other Commission member was Appeal Court Judge, Justice Nimal Dissanayake. Sri Lanka Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee Chairman (1996) R.I. Obeysekera participated in an advisory capacity.<img src="http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/dhraman250703..jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dharman0308a.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://www.google.lk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi07MbkkOzJAhWMMSYKHct2BCYQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.colombotelegraph.com%2Findex.php%2Franils-opinion-on-periodic-massacres-of-youth-since-1971%2F&psig=AFQjCNGU_dv1i13kC67dvFqqS-Khb2wwFA&ust=1450758906971527" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://www.tamilnet.com/img/publish/2002/08/pa-pstr_3_111099.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://www.tamilnet.com/img/publish/2002/08/pa-pstr_2_111299.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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