Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila was summoned to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) on Sunday to record a statement over remarks he made at the launch of a book he authored on the Easter Sunday terror attacks, NewsFirst reported.
According to sources cited by the broadcaster, the summons relates specifically to a claim Gammanpila made during the book launch regarding “another attack.” The TID, which falls under the Sri Lanka Police, has jurisdiction over offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and related security investigations.
Update (Monday, May 11): Gammanpila duly appeared before the TID on Monday afternoon to record his statement, Ada Derana reported. The summons related to remarks he made during the Seventh Easter Sunday attacks commemoration event, the broadcaster said.
NewsFirst did not detail the language Gammanpila used at the book launch or specify when the event was held. The article also did not say whether the questioning had concluded at the time of publication.
The TID summons opens a new accountability track against the former Member of Parliament, distinct from his ongoing exchanges with police over the death of a Treasury official. Gammanpila appeared before the Kuliyapitiya Police on Friday after the Police Media Spokesperson said a statement would be taken from him regarding claims described by officers as “false” about the death of Treasury IT officer Ranga Rajapaksha. He has separately drawn scrutiny over an earlier allegation about Islamic State links to the Easter attacks.
The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed more than 270 people across churches and hotels in Colombo and elsewhere, remain the subject of multiple active proceedings. Former State Intelligence Service chief Suresh Salley faces a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court case in which the Attorney General has named him as a “key driving force” behind the attacks, and a Cabinet-appointed expert committee is reviewing previous commission recommendations.
Sources: NewsFirst | Ada Derana.
