COLOMBO :Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and Attorney-at-law Udaya Gammanpila is under fire from the public and legal bodies for allegedly using the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks to gain political mileage ahead of the upcoming General Election.
This follows his recent statement that he will release two commission reports on the attacks which he claims to possess, if the Government fails to release the same within seven working days, a deadline that ends today. He said he will release the reports tomorrow (Monday).
Gammanpila told the Sunday Observer that he will make the reports public but will not publish the annexures concerning the two reports because they contain sensitive material that could jeopardise national security. He alleged that the Government was not publishing the reports as the reports could damage their position in the upcoming Election. The media spokesman for Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando has also urged Gammanpila not to politicise the Easter Attacks and interfere with ongoing investigations being carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department. Fr. Cyril Gamini weighed in on the matter, expressing disinterest in Gammanpila’s plan to publish the reports and cautioned Gammanpila against politicising the ongoing investigations.
Gammanpila said that he is seeking a meeting with Minister Vijitha Herath to return the annexures from the two committee reports on the Easter Sunday attacks. Gammanpila said his attempts to reach the Minister since Wednesday have proved futile, prompting him to send the documents via registered post.
Legal experts and critics have accused Gammanpila of using the tragic event for political gain. National People’s Power lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma has warned that Gammanpila could face legal repercussions if he discloses any classified information that could compromise national security.
Fr. Cyril Gamini said that Gammanpila should refrain from interfering with the work of the Criminal Investigation Department. The reports in question stem from two Presidential Commissions. One, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice S.I. Imam probing alleged ties between Sri Lankan intelligence and terror suspects as highlighted in a Channel 4 documentary.
The second was led by retired Judge A.N.J. De Alwis and focused on the role of the intelligence services in the Easter Sunday attacks.
Gammanpila said, “The committee members have recommended not to publish the annexures. As a responsible citizen, I’ve decided to return the annexures to the Government.”
