News Today: Batalanda Commission Report will undergo legal review before Parliament discusses its findings.

The Batalanda Commission Report has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for legal advice before a parliamentary debate.

Batalanda Commission Report to be Debated in Parliament

Colombo: The much-anticipated Batalanda Commission Report is set to receive legal scrutiny before being debated in Parliament. Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, and Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake, assured the public that the Attorney General’s Department would provide the necessary legal recommendations on how to proceed.

Presenting the report in Parliament, the Minister announced that a special Presidential Committee would be appointed to analyze the findings. This decision aligns with the policy framework of the National People’s Power (NPP) Government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which aims to ensure historical justice.

Key Decisions on the Batalanda Commission Report

• The 28-volume proceedings of the commission will be presented to Parliament soon.
• The report will be translated into Sinhala, Tamil, and English for MPs and public reference.
• A two-day Parliamentary Debate on the 25-year-old report will be scheduled.
• The Cabinet of Ministers has committed to taking action based on the findings.

Historical Background of the Batalanda Torture Camp

The Batalanda Commission was established during the presidency of Chandrika Kumaratunga and concluded its final report in May 1998. The commission recorded testimonies from torture victims and their families, shedding light on one of the darkest chapters of Sri Lanka’s history, the 1988–1989 insurgency.

Despite the report’s completion, legal action was never taken against those responsible. The United National Party (UNP), under whose rule the alleged Batalanda torture camp operated, has long been accused of crimes, including suppressing political movements and implementing oppressive laws like the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Notably, a key accused in the Batalanda case recently claimed in an Al Jazeera interview that, to his knowledge, a copy of the report was never presented to Parliament.

Will Justice Finally Be Served?

With the NPP Government now in power, the long-dormant Batalanda Commission Report is being revived for discussion and potential legal action. Millions who lost loved ones during the 1988–1989 conflict are watching closely, hoping for long-overdue accountability.