Former MP Udaya Gammanpila today alleged that former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director and retired Major General Suresh Sallay has commenced a hunger strike while in police custody, claiming he is being subjected to inhumane treatment.
Addressing a special media briefing, Gammanpila said the briefing was convened at the request of Sallay’s wife and son to convey what they described as an important message to the public.
According to Gammanpila, Sallay’s son visited him on Saturday morning and found him in a distressed condition.
Gammanpila alleged that Sallay had informed his family that he was served only a small portion of rice and radish curry for dinner on Friday night. He further claimed that the food had been served on a sheet of newspaper placed on the floor and that the meal fell onto the ground when Sallay attempted to pick it up.
As a result, Gammanpila said, Sallay became emotionally distressed and refused to consume the meal.
He further alleged that Sallay had decided to launch a hunger strike from Friday night in protest against what he described as inhumane treatment while in custody.
According to Gammanpila, Sallay has also refused water and medication and had told his son that he was being treated “worse than a dog” and questioned what wrongdoing had warranted such treatment.
Gammanpila claimed that Sallay had expressed a desire to continue the protest until death, saying he would rather die than continue living while facing what he described as false accusations and inhumane treatment.
Sallay, a retired Major General, was appointed Director of the State Intelligence Service in 2019 shortly after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office.
He has been accused of involvement in the organisation of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, allegations that he has consistently denied.
The allegations regarding Sallay’s treatment in custody were made by Gammanpila on behalf of the former intelligence chief’s family during the media briefing.
There was no immediate response from the Police regarding the claims.
