Sri Lanka, June 30 -- Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias "Pillayan", has been remanded until July 13 in connection with ongoing investigations into five murders that took place in several parts of the Eastern Province in 2008.

The order was issued by the Batticaloa Magistrate's Court when the case was taken up today (30).

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had informed the court on June 15 of the progress of investigations into the killings.

During the previous hearing, the Magistrate directed the Superintendent of the Welikada Prison to produce Chandrakanthan before court after he was named the third suspect in the case.

Accordingly, Chandrakanthan was produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate's Cour...