The Parliamentary Communications Department has announced that the debate on the ‘Batalanda’ Commission report will commence on 10 April.

Acting Director of Communications of Parliament, Jayalath Perera, stated that the debate will take place in two stages.

“From 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM, the debate on the ‘Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Places of Unlawful Detention and Torture Chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme,’ which was tabled in Parliament on 14 March, will take place. Another date in May has been allocated to continue this as a two-day debate,” he said.

The report was presented to Parliament on 14 March by Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Ratnayake. At the time, Ratnayake confirmed that a two-day debate would be held and revealed that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had made a policy decision through the Cabinet to take action on the report.

He further stated that the government had decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal review. Additionally, a Presidential Committee has been appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on future actions.