Lawyer Achala Seneviratne announced today (12) that a formal complaint has been lodged with the CID against former MP Udaya Gammanpila. The complaint was filed by parents and victims involved in ongoing court cases related to alleged abductions and centres on statements Gammanpila has made to the media.

The core issue concerns remarks Gammanpila made following the arrest of former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne. According to Seneviratne, Udaya Gammanpila has persistently made statements obstructing such court proceedings involving military since 2017.

Key allegations in the complaint include:

• Udaya Gammanpila allegedly claimed that individuals abducted or disappeared by the Sri Lanka Navy were “terrorists” or had “connections to the LTTE,” asserting that evidence for their arrests was obtained from “LTTE terrorists.”
• Most recently, after the arrest of a naval commander, Udaya Gammanpila reportedly told the media that a “terrorist government” or “LTTE government” was responsible for the arrest, acting on evidence from “terrorist individuals.”

Seneviratne stressed the serious consequences of these statements, noting they cause significant prejudice to victims in cases related to abductions allegedly carried out by the military units. Moreover, they intimidate all witnesses involved in these legal processes, she pointed out.

“We see that these statements incite racism and pave the way for a war-like situation, disrupting peace within the country,” Seneviratne said. She highlighted that such remarks leave victims feeling insecure and intimidate witnesses, severely endangering their safety during ongoing court proceedings. She also warned that these statements foster an environment conducive to new ethnic and religious crises.

The persistence of Udaya Gammanpila’s statements since 2017, she pointed out, indicates a clear intention behind his actions. Labeling the abducted individucals as “terrorists” not only denies them justice but also promotes racism, religious hatred, and discrimination.

The abduction cases under scrutiny, such as the case that is being heard at Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court over an abduction of a youth , date back to 2009 and involve the disappearance of 11 individuals, including children of military officers. These disappearances are alleged to have been carried out by various security forces. While former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was implicated during his tenure, investigations also cover periods under previous Navy commanders. Seneviratne noted that Karannagoda has been named as the 14th suspect in the indictment, although its delivery has been temporarily halted by a Court of Appeal order, which is not a final ruling. The complainants have expressed serious concern over the nearly 14-15 year delay in these cases, partly attributing it to political interference in investigations.

The charges in the complaint can be taken under the ICCPR Act, as well as the Penal Code and the Victims and Witness Protection Act, encompassing all relevant legal provisions. However, the CID has to investigate about it, Seneviratne said.

Seneviratne and the complainants demand that the CID conduct a thorough investigation and take immediate, strict legal action. “The law must apply equally to all citizens without discrimination,” she asserted, emphasising that politicians should not interfere with the judicial process or the rule of law. She added that the “victim status” of those affected must remain unchanged regardless of shifts in political power.