Opposition Leader and SLPP Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Batticaloa prison earlier today to meet Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan who is currently in prison.

Chandrakanthan, former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, was arrested by the Police over several high-profile investigations.

Both Chandrakanthan and his erstwhile mentor Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman have pledged support to SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the upcoming election.

The former President's move, however, came under severe criticism from some circles due to Chandrakanthan's chequered past.

The former Minister served as a militant attached to the LTTE for a long time and functioned as the second-in-command to Karuna Amman who headed the Armed Wing of the organization.