Former Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila has defended retired military intelligence chief Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay's decision not to disclose the passwords to his mobile phone and computer to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), despite a recent court order.
Addressing the media, Gammanpila said that while he respects the Fort Magistrate's order directing Sallay to provide the passwords, he disagrees with the legal basis of the ruling.
He argued that under the Code of Criminal Procedure, a suspect is not legally required to assist in an investigation against themselves, describing the principle as a fundamental safeguard recognised in legal systems. Gammanpila also claimed that pressuring an individual to disclose passwords would be unlawful.
The former MP further alleged that Cabinet Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Reverend Father Cyril Gamini, and several National People's Power (NPP) MPs had attempted to exert public pressure on Sallay through media statements.
Responding to claims that Sallay, as a retired military officer, should have already surrendered all intelligence-related information, Gammanpila said that while official intelligence records belong to the State, the identities of confidential informants are often known only to the intelligence officer who handled them. He argued that disclosing such information could endanger those individuals and compromise national security.
Gammanpila also referred to the 2002 Millennium City incident, saying it demonstrated the potential consequences of exposing intelligence assets. He added that Sallay's legal team is expected to challenge the Magistrate's order before a higher court.
