Fr. Cyril Gamini petitions SC to prevent arrest over allegations he made against SIS Chief

By aja abeynayake

Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando has filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an injunction order preventing him from being arrested by the police.

Last week, Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General Suresh Salley lodged a complaint with the CID over allegations made by Fr. Fernando and several others, during an online forum on 23 Oct., to brief Sri Lankans living overseas on the Easter Sunday attacks.

The complaint referred to comments made by Fr. Fernando that the country’s intelligence units had provided financial and other assistance to the leader of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), Zahran Hashim, one of the terrorists who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019.

The complaint states that it was also alleged, during the webinar, that the then Brigadier Suresh Salley had played an active role in nurturing Zahran Hashim and his followers.

Fr. Cyril Gamini, who was summoned by the CID the following day to record a statement in connection with the complaint filed by the SIS chief, has requested one week’s time to provide the statement.