Sri Lanka, April 15 -- Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's request to speak with detained former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, has been refused by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

According to the Minister, one of Wickremesinghe's security officers contacted CID officials by phone, requesting that the former President be allowed to speak with the detainee.

However, the Minister said that the request was refused on the grounds that it is illegal to communicate via telephone with a suspect held under a detention order.

Meanwhile, former MP Udaya Gammanpila was recently granted permission to meet Pilleyan.

Gammanpila reportedly made the re...