by Our Political Affairs Editor
In an exclusive interview with Sri Lanka Guardian, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, commonly known as Pillayan, former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province and currently leads the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), strongly refuted claims made by Azad Maulana, his former media secretary. Pillayan stated, “Maulana falsely claimed I was involved with the bombers. In reality, it was Maulana who had maintained contact with one of the bombers, Rilwan, during an explosive experiment when Rilwan was injured. Rilwan, the brother of Zahran Hashim, was later treated by Safraz, a doctor at the National Hospital in Colombo, who was a close associate of Maulana. Safraz later fled the country with the help of an international agency.”
Pillayan further asserted that Zahran Hashim, the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday bombings, had links to Maulana, adding that it was clear Maulana had maintained ties with the bombers. “To evade justice and seek refuge in Europe, Maulana twisted the entire story and fabricated lies,” Pillayan continued. He called on the government to take swift action, demanding that Maulana be extradited and prosecuted in Sri Lanka without delay.
Pillayan also spoke about his time in prison alongside Zainee Hashim and Mohamed Hashim, the brother and father, respectively, of Zahran Hashim, the mastermind behind the devastating bombings. The attacks, which took place on 21 April 2019, targeted churches and luxury hotels, killing over 260 people and injuring more than 500. It was one of the deadliest terrorist events in Sri Lanka’s history, bringing the threat of Islamist extremism into sharp focus.
Reflecting on his interactions with Zainee during their imprisonment, Pillayan said, “I had a few occasions to talk to him, but even then, I never suspected him of harbouring violent extremist ideologies.” He recalled how fellow inmates often mocked Zainee, calling him an “IS agent,” to which he would respond with a smile. “He would frequently advise against listening to music or watching TV shows with women dancing. While this struck us as extreme, I never imagined he would later be linked to such a horrific attack,” Pillayan explained.
Pillayan also shared a memory of Zainee giving him a book on Islam and urging him to read it. “His father, who had diabetes, would struggle to perform his daily prayers. Zainee would lead the prayers when his father couldn’t,” Pillayan said.
Responding to the broader accusations, particularly those made by Azad Maulana—his former media secretary who sought asylum abroad—Pillayan dismissed them as politically motivated. “These accusations are baseless. Maulana fabricated these stories to deceive certain segments of society and further his own agenda. In truth, Maulana was the one who maintained contact with the bombers. I never had any such links,” Pillayan stressed.
Pillayan urged authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and interview other inmates who were detained with Zainee and Mohamed Hashim. “The truth is there for anyone who seeks it. Let law enforcement speak with those who were imprisoned alongside them,” he said.
Pillayan also expressed his concerns about the politicisation of the Easter Sunday attacks, stating, “We, as a society, have failed to understand the gravity of this tragedy. Instead, it has been turned into a political tool for vendettas. This is deeply regrettable.”
Looking back on his past, Pillayan discussed his departure from the LTTE with Karuna Amman and his subsequent distancing from Karuna for political reasons. “As Chief Minister, I may not have been perfect, but I achieved what many others could not. I created jobs, both directly and indirectly, and initiated infrastructure projects that benefited the region,” he said.
He defended his actions during the war, asserting, “The environment during the conflict required decisive measures. Eliminating the Tamil Tigers was necessary at the time, which is why we now celebrate being a unified country. Today, we are holding elections that are free and fair, without any disruption. To reach this point, we worked hard together. However, I do not seek gratitude. I only ask that fabricated charges not be used for political vendettas.”
Pillayan also highlighted the need for greater understanding of the rise of Islamist extremism in Sri Lanka. “We are poorly equipped to understand how these ideologies develop, both regionally and internationally. There is a lack of substantive research on the subject. I have studied it myself and identified how extremism escalated, causing immense damage. Yet, we remain unprepared for future threats, resorting instead to blaming intelligence agencies and others with unfounded accusations.”
Pillayan emphasised the urgency of developing better strategies to combat extremism and ensure the security of the nation, quoting from a book he authored on the Easter Sunday attacks. “We must act now to prevent future tragedies,” he warned.
