Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe tried to contact Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, while he was in CID custody earlier this month because Pillayan had served as a minister in his government, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale said Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Kegalle, Atukorale defended Wickremesinghe’s attempt to reach Pillayan by phone, saying it was a matter of responsibility. “If a member of your administration is suddenly taken into custody, it is only natural to inquire. That’s all the former President did,” she said.

Pillayan, currently a Member of Parliament, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on April 9 in Batticaloa under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), in connection with the 2007 abduction and disappearance of a former vice chancellor of Eastern University.

Atukorale dismissed any suggestions of wrongdoing, saying political opponents were now trying to “make an issue” out of the call. “They once brought up Batalanda. Now, it’s this phone call. And tomorrow, they will try to record a statement about comments made on Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. We’re ready for all of it,” she said.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said Wickremesinghe’s request was denied, citing legal restrictions that prohibit phone communication with suspects in custody.

Atukorale insisted there was “nothing to hide,” adding, “We are not running away from anything, and neither can anyone else.”