The United National Party on Monday strongly condemned what it described as the inhumane treatment of former State Intelligence Chief Major General Suresh Sallay, who was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and later admitted to the Colombo National Hospital amid a deteriorating health condition, NewsFirst and Newswire reported.
In a statement issued by the party, the UNP said the treatment of Sallay violates both Article 11 of the Constitution — the absolute prohibition on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment — and Sri Lanka’s obligations under international conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The matter has already drawn the attention of the international community, the party said.
The UNP proposed that a Parliamentary group be dispatched to examine Sallay’s condition and the manner in which he is being treated, stressing that any action against him must be consistent with constitutional protections and international obligations.
Citing accounts from Sallay’s wife Manori and his son, the party alleged he has been subjected to torture and inhumane treatment while in custody. It noted that Section 9(b)(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act places responsibility on the magistrate to ensure that suspects are protected under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The party warned that normalising the current treatment could set a “highly dangerous” precedent, potentially extending to opposition political groups and even Buddhist monks at a time when the government has been accused of attempts to control religious institutions.
The UNP said it remained vigilant about the government’s conduct and reiterated that Sallay’s case must be handled strictly in line with the Constitution and international conventions.
The statement adds the UNP to a growing list of voices criticising the government’s handling of Sallay’s detention, alongside the opposition satyagraha launched outside the Fort Railway Station and Sallay’s continuing hunger strike at the National Hospital over the conduct of his investigation.
