UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila was granted bail by Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne over the case regarding the alleged use of a forged power of attorney to sell the assets of an Australian named Brian Shaddick.

Gammanpila was released on a cash bail of Rs 25,000 and three sureties of Rs 500,000 each.

The other suspect in the case was released on a cash bail of Rs 15,000 and two sureties of Rs 500,000 each.

They were both banned from foreign travel.

The court observed that using a forged signature of a foreigner was a serious matter and directed that the suspects should not interfere with those who are involved in the case. It was also informed to court that in 2015, Gammanpila had met an individual regarding the case in Australia, and had obtained a signature for an affidavit.

Gammanpila's lawyers gave an undertaking that their client will not contact anyone connected in the case.

UPFA MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila has been arrested at his office in Pagoda Rd, Nugegoda.

He was reportedly arrested by the police SIU and is being taken there.

Gammanpila was questioned by the SIU on two occasions for allegedly using a fraudulent power of attorney to sell assets in Sri Lanka which belonged to Brian Shaddick of Western Australia.

Gammanpila had filed a Fundamental Rights petition seeking an order to prevent his arrest. He alleged the said complaints by Brian Shaddick and his Power of Attorney Lasitha Perera are fabricated.

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila was fixed for support on June 23 by the Supreme Court.

Gammanpila filed this petition on June 9, seeking an order to prevent him being arrested by the police Special Investigations Unit.

Through his petition, Gammanpila said that two complaints have been filed by an Australian named Brian Shaddick and his Power of Attorney Lasitha Perera with the SIU against him on false basis.

He added that this was done under influence by associates of Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who is a political rival.

Gammanpila also requests Rs 500 million as damages to his good name caused by the allegations.

Seven respondents including SSP of the police SIU, Shaddick, Lasitha Perera and the AG have been named in the petition.

Gammanpila was questioned by the SIU on two days following the submission of the petition.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila today said that he was not engaged in a project to form a new political party.

Speaking at a press conference, Gammanpila said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party members who are opposed to President Sirisena's policy of surrendering the party to the UNP were planning to form a new party.

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya is engaged in an attempt to form a new alliance as an alternative to the United People's Freedom Alliance, which is now a dying entity, Gammanpila added.

However, the official launch of the new alliance has been postponed indefinitely, he added, saying that it will be formed once the government calls for the Local Government Elections which are long overdue.

He expressed confidence in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa accepting the leadership of this new alliance.

The Keselwatte Police have launched an investigation on Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila for alleged contempt of the court, the police today said filing a B report with the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

The investigation is being conducted on a complaint filed by Amila Indika, a lawyer, on a statement by Gammanpila on January 11.

Accordingly, Gammanpila criticized the court decision to grant bail to UNP MP Hirunika Premachndra hours after her arrest last Saturday. This could be a punishable offense under Section 55 (2) of the Judicator Act, the report said.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila launched his 'Black Flag Week' against the government by updating his profile picture on Facebook.

Furthermore, his cover photo has also been changed to announce the Black Flag Week between January 2 to January 8.

Meanwhile, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Facebook Page has also been changed into a black flag in a yellow background, similar to the one used by Gammanpila.

However, Gammanpila is yet to receive widespread support for the movement. An hour after he changed his profile picture, even Madhu Madhawa Aravinda, who is a key member of the PHU, was yet to change his profile picture. Aravinda was seen active on Facebook after Gammanpila's move.

Although almost 500 'likes' were received by Gammanpila's profile picture within one hour, only a handful of them joined him in changing their profile pictures. Meanwhile, none of the key members of the 'Joint Opposition' had joined him within the first hour of his campaign.

Gammanpila recently requested the public to hoist black flags in houses, shops and vehicles from January 2 to January 8, as a mark of protest against the government. He asked them to at least change their profile picture to a black flag, if they were afraid to hoist a flag at the residences or on their vehicles.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila today requested the public to hoist black flags in houses, shops and vehicles from January 2 to January 8, as a mark of protest against the government.

Addressing a media conference this morning at PHU headquarters, Gammanpila said that January 8 marks the beginning of the darkest era in Sri Lankan history.

He requested the public to at least use a black flag as the Facebook profile picture to protest against the government, if they were feeling uncomfortable in hoisting a black flag in residences or vehicles.

The present government has taken the country in a dangerous path, compromising national security and traditional values, he added. Some of the former supporters of the government have become serious critics due to their policies, he also maintained.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila said that he has taken a firm decision not to contest under the UPFA if President Maithripala Sirisena leads it at the forthcoming Local Government Election.

Speaking at a PHU media conference in Colombo today, Gammanpila said that the UPFA experienced what could happen under Sirisena's leadership on August 17.

Recalling a statement by Albert Einstein, Gammanpila said that one has to be insane to expect a different result under the same set of conditions. Therefore, he will not fall in the same trap again, Gammanpila said.

He also said that it was the responsibility of the SLFP to take a decision on Sirisena's party leadership. However, popular leaders of the party say that the SLFP cannot win elections under the leadership of Sirisena, Gammanpila also remarked.

If Sirisena truly wants the SLFP to succeed, he has to resign from the party leadership, Gammanpila also observed.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila today claimed that Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was behind an attempt to discredit him by having him arrested on trumped-up charges of forging documents.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Gammanpila said that a ‘fabricated claim’ has been made against him, alleging that he forged documents to cheat an Australian named Brian Shaddick of his shares in a company.

Gammanpila claimed that the said company went bankrupt in 2005 and therefore this story cannot be true in any way. He also claimed that Shaddick has a personal grudge on him which made him come out with such an allegation.

The claim against Gamanpila was first made during the recent election campaign. A police investigation was also initiated on this.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila called on US President Barack Obama to 'practice what he preaches' and let Britain release the Chilcot Report on the Iraq war.

Speaking at the public rally of the united opposition against the Hybrid Court, Gammanpila said that while the reports of the committees on Sri Lanka's civil war is being released, the report on the Iraq war is being suppressed.

Furthermore, Gammanpila said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa stood up for the country's defence even in the face of challenges of the Western powers.

In contrast, even though Maithripala Sirisena claimed that he stoop up to imperialism, he did quite the opposite, Gammanpila argued.

The rally is being held at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre.