Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging certain provisions of the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill presented to Parliament by the Government.

In his petition, Gammanpila has requested the Supreme Court to declare that certain provisions of the proposed Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution.

The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the petition.

The former Minister claims that several provisions of the proposed legislation violate fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Accordingly, Gammanpila has requested the Supreme Court to rule that the disputed provisions, if they are to be enacted, must be approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and endorsed through a referendum.

The former minister further said that a writ petition has also been filed against the court order issued by the Fort Magistrate last Friday (16) preventing Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera and 54 others from remaining outside the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. 

The monks had staged a march from Kandy, calling for the release of the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, and settled down in front of the Presidential Secretariat staging a protest. 

An order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena prohibiting the monks from staying at the said location and ordering the Police to remove them from the location. 

Speaking to reporters, Udaya Gammanpila said the writ petition against the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s order was filed at the Court of Appeal today.  (Newswire)

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Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was forcibly stripped of his monastic attire and made to wear a prison uniform while in custody at Welikada Prison.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo today (12), dressed in black, Gammanpila claimed that the incident had taken place despite strong objections from both Gnanasara Thera and the prison officers involved.

Gammanpila stated that he visited Welikada Prison on October 8 at the request of Gnanasara Thera, during which the monk had explained the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to Gammanpila, a similar incident occurred in 2018, when prison officers attempted to dress Gnanasara Thera in prison attire but abandoned the effort following his objections.

However, he alleged that on this occasion, several prison officers had joined together to forcibly dress the monk in a prison uniform despite his resistance.

“Unlike in 2018, when officers abandoned the attempt following the Thera’s objections, this time a large number of officers gathered and attempted to forcibly dress him in prison attire,” Gammanpila said.

He further alleged that a prison officer had activated the camera on his mobile phone during the incident, allowing an individual at another location to observe and possibly supervise what was taking place.

“One officer activated the camera on his mobile phone, allowing someone, possibly an influential person at another location, to watch and supervise the attempt to forcibly dress the Thera in prison attire,” he claimed.

Gammanpila also accused senior leaders of the National People’s Power (NPP) of exerting pressure to ensure that Gnanasara Thera was made to wear the prison uniform.

“We state with great responsibility that Gnanasara Thera was made to wear the prison uniform due to pressure from senior NPP leaders, despite strong objections from both the Thera and the officers,” he alleged.

He further claimed that Gnanasara Thera had become deeply distressed during the incident and had thrown his monastic undergarment upwards when officers attempted to take it from him, causing it to become caught in a rotating ceiling fan.

Gammanpila reiterated his allegation that the incident had occurred due to pressure from higher authorities, despite objections from those involved.

The allegations made by Gammanpila have not been independently verified. (Newswire)

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A contempt of court complaint against six individuals, including former MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila and MP Dilith Jayaweera, was taken up before the Court of Appeal today (07).

The complaint had been referred by the Colombo Fort Magistrate, alleging contempt of court by the six individuals.

The matter was taken up before a three-judge Court of Appeal bench comprising President of the Court of Appeal Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justices Chamath Morais and Adithya Patabendige.

During the proceedings, the bench directed the Court Registrar to take the necessary steps to provide relevant documents and information requested by lawyers appearing for the named parties.

The case was ordered to be taken up again on the morning of October 15 to review the progress in providing the documents and information.

The Court of Appeal also scheduled the matter for the afternoon of October 23, when lawyers representing the named parties are expected to make submissions. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has been acquitted and released by the Colombo High Court in a case involving an alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to Rs. 21 million.

Colombo High Court Judge Nadee Aparna Suwandurugoda delivered the verdict following a lengthy trial.

In delivering the judgment, the Judge stated that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against Gammanpila beyond reasonable doubt.

Accordingly, the court ordered that former Minister Udaya Gammanpila be acquitted and released from the charges.

The case had been filed during the previous Yahapalana Government over allegations that Gammanpila had unlawfully sold company shares belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick using an allegedly forged power of attorney.

He had been accused of committing criminal breach of trust involving approximately Rs. 21 million through the transaction. (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today that an investigation has been initiated against six individuals, including former ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila and current MP Dilith Jayaweera, over alleged contempt of court.

CID officers told court the inquiry was launched into statements made via electronic media that were said to obstruct ongoing investigations into former Director of the State Intelligence Service, retired Major General Suresh Sallay, and to be contemptuous of judicial proceedings.

The probe covers remarks made by MP Dilith Jayaweera, former MPs Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Asanka Navarathna, as well as Sugeeshwara Bandara and Mahinda Pathirana.

The CID requested that notices be issued summoning the six individuals to appear before court on July 1. 

However, the Magistrate ruled that such notices were unnecessary, noting that charges under the Contempt of Court Act No. 8 of 2024 must be pursued before the Court of Appeal rather than the Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Former MP and leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila, has warned that legal action could be pursued if the government refuses to postpone the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, arguing that students have been given significantly less time to prepare compared to previous years.

Addressing a media briefing today (15), Gammanpila said the 2026 A/L examination is scheduled to begin on August 10, while the results of the previous examination were released only on March 31, leaving students who plan to sit the exam for a second or third time with about 133 days to prepare.

He claimed that candidates in previous years had between 178 and 198 days to prepare after receiving their results and argued that the reduced preparation period amounted to unfair treatment.

Gammanpila also alleged that first-time candidates have been disadvantaged, noting that students sitting the 2026 examination will have had around 21 months of study time, compared to 27 to 32 months available to candidates in recent years.

He further stated that affected students may have grounds to file Fundamental Rights petitions in the Supreme Court or seek relief through the Court of Appeal, claiming a violation of the constitutional principle of equality.

Recalling a similar controversy in 2022, Gammanpila said the examination was eventually postponed after concerns were raised regarding preparation time. He urged the government and the Education Ministry to reconsider the 2026 examination schedule and ensure fairness to students. (Newswire)

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Several opposition political parties began a satyagraha in Colombo on Monday (08), protesting what they describe as inhumane harassment against former State Intelligence Service Chief Major General Suresh Sallay. 

The demonstration, attended by former minister Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, is being staged at the Fort Railway Station premises.

Organizers of the satyagraha state that the protest will continue until authorities address concerns over Sallay’s treatment, calling on supporters to join in solidarity. 

Sallay was recently taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. He is currently being held under a detention order.

Sallay was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital last night (07) after developing a sudden illness while in custody. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has questioned the credibility of the post-mortem examination into the death of Finance Ministry Assistant Director Ranga Nishantha, describing both the death and the investigation as “suspicious.”

Speaking at a media briefing, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader said the conclusion that Nishantha’s death was likely a suicide due to excessive bleeding from multiple cut injuries was premature and lacked sufficient forensic backing.

Gammanpila raised concerns that key forensic procedures, including toxicology and pathology tests, had not been completed before the conclusion was reached. He said it was not possible to determine whether the death was a suicide or a homicide until such examinations were finalised.

He also questioned why the Police had described the death as a suicide before the post-mortem findings were complete.

Nishantha, who had reportedly lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department over an alleged cyber fraud, was found dead at his residence, raising broader concerns about the impact on ongoing investigations.

Gammanpila said the victim’s wife had formally complained to the Police that the death was suspicious, a concern that was also noted in official correspondence related to the inquiry.

He further called for forensic analysis of fingerprints on the weapon involved, as well as blood samples found at the scene, to determine whether other individuals were involved.

The former minister also questioned the composition of the post-mortem panel, alleging potential bias and calling for a fully independent investigation.

He urged authorities to appoint a new panel of senior forensic experts to conduct a fresh examination, saying it was necessary to restore public confidence. (Newswire)

සිය සැමියාගේ මරණය සැක සහිත බවට රංග නිශාන්ත මහතාගේ බිරිඳ පොලිසියට පැමිණිලි කළ බව සෞඛ්‍ය අධ්‍යක්ෂ ජනරාල්වරයා සහ කුලියාපිටිය මහෙස්ත්‍රාත්වරයා විසින් තහවුරු කළ ලිපි pic.twitter.com/VE9V5l9lxd

— Udaya Gammanpila (@UPGammanpila) May 4, 2026

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The main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), says the party does not agree with the facts in the book written by former MP Udaya Gammanpila, titled ‘The Mastermind of the Easter Attack’.

Addressing the media, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara said party members, including Leader Sajith Premedasa, attended the book launch, as they were invited for the event.

“When someone invites for a book launch, we attend. This doesn’t mean we know the contents of the book before the launch. We attended the book launch to know of its content. Just because we attended the event doesn’t mean that we agree with the facts,” he said.

Ranjith Maddumabandara further said that the SJB does not agree with all the facts revealed in the book, adding that the Opposition party stands by its stance, calling for the mastermind to be found and brought before the law. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Navin Dissanayake has criticized the book launch by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila on the Easter Sunday attacks, claiming the event was an attempt to “whitewash the Rajapaksas.”

In a statement on social media, Dissanayake said the event was held to unveil the “mastermind” behind the Easter attacks, but noted that the individual identified was Zahran Hashim, who had already been named in the Presidential Commission report.

“There was a function to unveil the mastermind of the Easter attacks. Surprise, surprise — the mastermind was mentioned as Zahran Hashim, who was, anyway, mentioned in the Presidential Commission report,” Dissanayake said.

He further remarked that the event being held yesterday was ironic, describing it as something that “should have been held on April Fool’s Day.”

Dissanayake also expressed regret that several opposition figures attended the event, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Sagala Ratnayaka, Wajira Abeywardena, and Thalatha Athukorala.

The book launch by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila focused on findings related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and was attended by several political figures. (Newswire)

There was a function yes to unveil the mastermind(මහා මොළකරු) of the easter attacks.Surprise surprise the matermind was mentioned as Zahran Hashim who was anyway mentioned in the Presidential comission report.This shld have been held today April fools https://t.co/YNlsCEC8V9 was… pic.twitter.com/QO9z2jRc7p

— Navin Dissanayake (@NavinDissa) April 1, 2026

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Former minister Udaya Gammanpila says the government was attempting to put him in jail on March 27 to prevent his book, revealing the mastermind of the 2019 Easter attacks, from being released on March 31.

Addressing the media today, Gammanpila said Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa had recently indicated that the book may not be released, as Gammanpila might be arrested before. 

“It is evident from the minister’s statement that the government is making preparations to arrest me to prevent my book from being released,” he said. 

Gammanpila was referring to comments by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa during last week’s government media briefing, where he responded to questions about Gammanpila’s statements. 

“If there is no issue with the case against Udaya Gammanpila scheduled for March 27, he will be able to make some revelation,” Jayatissa said, responding to Gammanpila’s claim that he would disclose the alleged mastermind behind the 2019 Easter attacks by the end of the month. 

Gammanpila further challenged Minister Nalinda Jayatissa to ensure that he is arrested on March 27 as claimed. (Newswire)

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Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) and former MP Udaya Gammanpila says the alleged mastermind behind the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, whom the government has not disclosed so far, will be revealed to the country on March 31.

Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo today (16), Gammanpila said that after conducting research for about one and a half years, a book titled ‘Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Sunday Attacks’ has been prepared.

He further said that the research book is expected to be launched on March 31 at 3.30 pm at the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanti Mandiraya in Colombo.

“The Easter Sunday attack has been exploited for seven years. Governments were formed, governments were toppled, and without any basis, soldiers were harassed and persecuted using the Easter Sunday attack. Now the time has come to put an end to this fraud. We are ready to reveal the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks on March 31,” he said. (Newswire)

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Former MP Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been avoiding the appointment of the Auditor General until the end of the term of three independent members of the Constitutional Council on 18 January 2026.

In a statement, Gammanpila said it was obvious that he wants to appoint the auditor general of his choice with the support of the Constitutional Council.  

Gammanpila further alleged that the President intends to command the majority of the Constitutional Council after appointing his henchmen as independent members of the Council.  

He said, however, there is a golden opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to defeat this grand conspiracy.   

“According to Article 41E, the members of the Constitutional Council shall continue in office until assumption of the office by the new members, notwithstanding the expiration of their terms. If the Leader of the Opposition agrees to withdraw from the established practice and follow the Constitution to the dot, we can defeat the conspiracy of the President.

“According to Article 41A(1)(e)(iii) of the Constitution, three independent persons shall be nominated by agreement of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. However, established practice was that only one name was jointly agreed upon by them, and one name each was nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition out of the applicants.  If the Leader of the Opposition withdraws from this practice and demands that all three names must be jointly proposed by both, he can ensure that truly independent and impartial persons would be appointed to the Constitutional Council,” Gammanpila said. 

Udaya Gammanpila further noted that unless the Leader of the Opposition agrees to this proposal, the Prime Minister would nominate an NPP supporter to the council, and thereby the President can politicize the entire State machinery by appointing superior court judges, auditor general, attorney general and members of independent commissions of his choice. (Newswire)

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Former Minister and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila has claimed that the government is conspiring to imprison him before the combined opposition’s planned “Nugegoda Rally” on November 21.

Speaking at a media briefing held today (29), Gammanpila said that a complaint was recently lodged against him with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) by an individual representing a non-governmental organization. 

He alleged that Bribery Commission officials themselves had prepared and recorded the complaint, which accuses him of defaming the Commission’s Director General under Section 125 of the Bribery Act through his media statements.

Gammanpila further charged that the complaint was politically motivated, lacking even a valid registration number of the NGO that supposedly filed it.

He reiterated that his previous comments on the appointment of the current Director General were based on facts presented in affidavits before the Supreme Court, pointing out that the candidate who scored the highest at the interview, Madhava Tennakoon, had been overlooked in favour of Ranga Dissanayake, a decision allegedly influenced by senior government leaders.

“The Director General of the Bribery Commission was appointed as a result of a corrupt process. When we expose that, instead of correcting the wrongdoing, the government is trying to jail those who reveal the truth,” he said.

The former minister alleged that this is the seventh attempt by the current administration to arrest him and claimed that certain ministers are personally pushing for his detention. 

He added that he is now “mentally prepared” to be imprisoned and sarcastically remarked that he would “live at government expense” for a few weeks so that “the ministers who lose sleep over this can finally rest.” (Newswire)

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Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya and former Member of Parliament, Udaya Gammanpila, has appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

It is reported that his appearance this morning (09) was in connection with ongoing investigations related to the controversial consignment of 323 containers.

“For the first time, the Bribery Commission has launched a probe into the corruption linked to the controversial consignment of 323 containers,” he told the media, prior to entering the Bribery Commission premises. 

Gammanpila’s comment refers to the 323 containers, identified as mandatory inspection, which were cleared for release without proper inspection, citing congestion at the Ports, earlier this year. (Newswire)

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Former minister Udaya Gammanpila and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya today lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, calling for legal action against the President and all National People’s Power (NPP) parliamentarians over alleged misuse of public funds.

In the letter handed over to the Commission, Gammanpila alleged that all salaries and allowances received by NPP lawmakers, including the President, are being directed to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party fund, from which members then receive stipends.

He argued that while MPs receive about Rs. 340,000 monthly in various allowances, only a portion can be lawfully spent at their discretion. The remainder, he said, is allocated for specific purposes such as office maintenance, fuel, transport, and communications, and therefore diverting those funds to a political party amounts to misappropriation.

“Using state funds meant for constituency service and parliamentary duties for party activities is corruption,” the complaint stated. Gammanpila also cited statements made publicly by MP Dewananda Suraveera, who had acknowledged the practice.

The complaint further noted that asset declarations of the President and NPP MPs did not reflect the stipends they allegedly received from the party, which, Gammanpila said, could constitute violations under the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities law and the Bribery Act.

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya urged the Bribery Commission to launch an immediate inquiry and enforce legal provisions, which include fines and prison terms if proven.

The Commission has yet to respond to the complaint. (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Court of Appeal today (12) that no decision has been made at this time to arrest former Minister Udaya Gammanpila.

The court was informed in this regard when the writ petition filed by Gammanpila, requesting an order to prevent his arrest under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), was taken up for consideration today. 

In his writ petition, Gammanpila has claimed that the CID was preparing to arrest him under this Act.

Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana de Silva, appearing on behalf of the CID, informed the court that the police have not made any decision to arrest Udaya Gammanpila at this time.

He further stated that investigations are still ongoing and that any final decision will be made thereafter.

Accordingly, the hearing of the petition has been postponed until the 17th of September. (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that an investigation has been initiated under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act against former Minister Udaya Gammanpila.

According to the CID, the inquiry was launched over an alleged statement made by Gammanpila that could incite disharmony among communities. The specific remarks in question were not disclosed during the court proceedings.

The Fort Magistrate recorded the submission, while further action is expected as the investigation progresses. (Newswire)

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A group of former MPs have pointed out that the Dambulla Agro cold storage complex, inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April this year, has been issued an electricity bill amounting to Rs. 8,409,000, even before beginning operations.

The matter came to light after former MPs led by Udaya Gammanpila undertook an observation tour of the temperature-controlled agricultural warehouse in Dambulla.

During the visit today (15), a security guard at the site revealed that the power supply to the temperature-controlled warehouse has reportedly been disconnected due to non-payment of the electricity bill.

The warehouse was constructed several years ago with assistance from the Indian government, following a proposal by opposition MP Harsha de Silva.

The official opening took place on April 5th, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the facility remotely, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. However, since that day, no services have been carried out at the warehouse.

Commenting on the situation, former MP Udaya Gammanpila urged the government to refrain from deceiving a foreign nation and its state officials, similar to deceiving the public of Sri Lanka. 

He warned that such actions could result in conflicts between Sri Lanka and other nations.

“It is nearly 04 months since the facility has been declared open. But it is not operational yet. It is ok for the government to deceive us. But please don’t deceive at an international level. This could cause wars between nations. This is a dangerous situation,” Gammanpila warned. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila says he is prepared to publicize a list of the controversial 323 containers released by Sri Lanka Customs earlier this year.

Speaking to the media, Gammanpila alleged that officials, including Customs Spokesperson Deputy Director General Seevali Arukgoda, were involved in the improper release of the goods in question.

He made these remarks before appearing at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to record a statement regarding the matter.

“The government is unable to refute any of our revelations, as we speak only the truth. We do not make claims without evidence,” he said.

The development follows a complaint lodged by an attorney-at-law seeking an investigation into Gammanpila and MP Dayasiri Jayasekera over their claims concerning the release of the containers by Sri Lanka Customs. The two politicians alleged that the containers were released without proper inspection.

Meanwhile, MP Archchuna Ramanathan last week told Parliament that the containers contained weapons belonging to the late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran—a claim publicly denied by Sri Lanka Customs during a media briefing held over the weekend. 

Gammanpila also claimed that the chair of the committee responsible for releasing the containers was Customs spokesperson Seevali Arukgoda, who had denied all allegations against the Customs during the briefing.

“Journalists were seen questioning the officials involved in the release, asking whether those responsible would be punished—as if they would reveal the truth. There are attempts by these officials to flee the country; therefore, we will request the CID to impose a travel ban,” Gammanpila added. (Newswire)

“I hope to publicise the 323 container list. We only speak the absolute truth,” former minister Udaya Gammanpila, on the controversial release of over 300 containers by Sri Lanka Customs. Gammanpila said that revelations made by him thus far have not been rejected by the… pic.twitter.com/x4fj3Zy7KC

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) June 9, 2025

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