2008 Batticaloa killings case
Current status of the 2008 Batticaloa killings case
Murder (5 counts) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act - Kallady/Murugan Temple shootings (9 Jan 2008), Kattankudy killings (22 May 2008), and a Kannakuda/Kothiyapola killing (20 Aug 2008); reporting also references a police-officer shooting and a businessman abduction/murder within the same case
What’s happened
Co-accused: Mohamed Sifan, Mohamed Sakeed, and Mohamed Faiz (at large, reportedly in London, subject to an open arrest warrant). Case filed 15 Jun 2026; further remanded 13 Jul 2026, again to 15 Sept 2026, and - at the 15 Sept 2026 hearing (conducted by video conference, with further CID submissions and a renewed arrest warrant for the London suspect) - further remanded to 29 Sept 2026. The court separately directed prison authorities to report back by 22 Sept 2026 on requests concerning Pillayan's meals and telephone contact with his mother - an interim administrative direction, not a change in his remand status. At the 29 Sept 2026 hearing Pillayan (by video link) and two co-suspects were further remanded to 13 Oct 2026.
- Court
- Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
- Next hearing / due
- 13 October 2026
2008 Batticaloa killings case timeline
- 13 October 2026
Next Hearing
The matter is scheduled to return to court on 2026-10-13.
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
Sources (1)
- 29 September 2026
Remanded
The Batticaloa Magistrate further remanded him, with two co-suspects, until 13 October 2026 in the 2008 Batticaloa-area killings case.
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
Sources (1)
- 29 September 2026
Hearing
The Batticaloa Magistrate's Court further remanded Chandrakanthan (Pillayan, who appeared by video link) and co-suspects Mohamed Sifan and Mohamed Sakeed until 13 October 2026.
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
Sources (1)
- 15 September 2026
Hearing
The scheduled 2026-09-15 hearing took place (by video conference); the court further remanded Pillayan and two other suspects until 29 September 2026 - see the linked remand event.
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
- 15 September 2026
Remanded
The Batticaloa Magistrate's Court further remanded Pillayan and two other suspects until 29 September 2026, after a hearing conducted by video conference at which the CID made further submissions and the court renewed the arrest warrant for a fourth suspect believed to be in London. The court separately directed prison authorities to report by 22 September 2026 on requests concerning Pillayan's meals and telephone contact with his mother.
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
Sources (3)
- 13 July 2026
Remanded
further remanded 13 Jul 2026 and again to 15 Sept 2026.
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court
- 15 June 2026
Remanded
The politician was remanded in connection with Murder (5 counts) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act - 2008 Batticaloa-area killings (Kallady/Murugan Temple, Kattankudy, Kannakuda/Kothiyapola).
Court: Batticaloa Magistrate's Court