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

PNM member attorney-at-law Sanjeeva Weerawickrama made the allegation during a press conference held in Colombo on Tuesday (25).

“The Criminal Investigation Department’s Director Shani Abeysekara went to France, recorded a statement from asylum seeker and whistleblower Azad Mouland, and informed the Court of the same. However, Abeysekara didn’t visit the Embassy to record 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,” he said.

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 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 DO of Sallay,” he said.

He also alleged that false statements were contained in the intervening petition filed by Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in connection with the writ petition filed by Sallay.