Leading Catholic priest, Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka seeking an injunction order preventing him from being arrested by the Police.
In October, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) launched a probe into the complaint filed by the Director-General of the State Intelligence Service, Major General Suresh Sallay.
Major General Suresh Sallay had filed a complaint with the CID over allegations levelled against him by Reverend Father Cyril Gamini.
Suresh Sallay said that at an online forum on the 23rd of October 2021 Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando had commented on him pertaining to the 2019 Easter attacks.
Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando had stated that Sri Lanka’s Intelligence Units had provided financial and other forms of assistance to Zaharan Hashim, the Leader of the now-proscribed National Thowheed Jamath, who also led the Easter attacks.
Suresh Sallay informed the CID that Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando had described him, who was a Brigadier at the time, to have been actively involved in nurturing Zaharan Hashim and his followers.
Major General Sallay strongly denied the allegations saying it has been made with the intention of discrediting him.
He called on the CID to initiate legal action against Father Cyril Gamini Fernando and the other individuals who participated in the forum.
The CID had thereafter summoned Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando to report to the Department on 28th October.
However, Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando had requested a week’s time to respond to the CID. (NewsWire)