The Patriotic National Movement has alleged that investigators and other parties provided false information with the intention of extending the detention order of former Director of the State Intelligence Service, retired Major General Suresh Sallay.

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeeva Weerawickrama, a member of the movement, made the allegation during a press conference held in Colombo yesterday (25).

Speaking at the event, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeeva Weerawickrama stated:

“Shani Abeysekara went to France, recorded a statement, and informed the Honourable Court that he had recorded a statement from Azad Maulana. However, Shani Abeysekara did not visit the embassy to record Azad Maulana’s statement. At that time, there was no Sri Lankan Ambassador to France, as the post remained vacant. However, a residence had been acquired on behalf of the Ambassador, and it was at that residence that the statement was recorded.”

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeeva Weerawickrama questioned the manner in which the relevant statement had been filed in court. He claimed that the court documents indicated in small print that the statement had been recorded at the residence of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to France.

He questioned whether Shani Abeysekara could, under Sri Lankan law, independently record a statement at an ambassador’s residence and submit it to court, and whether such an action had been carried out in accordance with the law.

“It was an illegal act. It was an arbitrary action taken to continuously extend the detention order of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former Director of the State Intelligence Service.”

The attorney also alleged that false statements were contained in the intervening petition filed by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in connection with the writ petition filed by retired Major General Suresh Sallay.