Former Minister and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila today outlined four reasons why former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay should not be compelled to disclose the passwords to his mobile phone and computer.
Addressing a media briefing, Gammanpila said that while he respected the recent court order directing Sallay to provide the passwords to investigators, he disagreed with the decision and expected Sallay’s legal team to challenge it.
“We respect the court order, but we do not agree with it. I believe Mr. Sallay’s lawyers will appeal the order through the proper legal process,” he said.
Gammanpila argued that the first reason was that, under Sri Lanka’s Code of Criminal Procedure, a suspect cannot be compelled to assist an investigation against themselves.
“A suspect has no obligation to assist an investigation against himself. He has the right to remain silent if he wishes,” he said.
As the second reason, he claimed that investigators or public officials should not pressure, threaten or induce a suspect into disclosing passwords, adding that such conduct would amount to undue influence.
“If anyone pressures, threatens or induces a suspect to hand over passwords, that amounts to undue influence,” he said, alleging that recent public statements by government representatives had exerted such pressure.
The third reason, according to Gammanpila, was that Sallay’s electronic devices could contain highly sensitive information relating to intelligence sources built up during his 38-year career in the intelligence service.
“There may be details of intelligence sources on those devices. Some sources provide information based on personal trust, while others operate through close personal relationships, including what are known as ‘honey traps’. Revealing their identities could endanger people who risked their lives to provide intelligence,” he claimed.
Gammanpila said intelligence officers often protect the identities of their informants by using code names, with only the handling officer knowing their true identities.
As the fourth reason, Gammanpila pointed to the 2002 Millennium City incident, arguing that previous disclosures of intelligence information had resulted in severe consequences.
“The bitter experience of the Millennium City incident showed what can happen when intelligence information is exposed. Intelligence officers and informants were allegedly identified, resulting in deaths and the collapse of intelligence networks,” he claimed.
Gammanpila maintained that these factors provided legitimate grounds for Sallay to resist disclosing his passwords, while reiterating that any challenge to the court order should be pursued through the legal process.
His remarks come after the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court ordered Sallay to provide the passwords to his mobile phone and computer as part of an ongoing investigation. (Newswire)