Gammanpila defends Pillayan, denies any link to Easter Sunday attacks

Speaking to the media, Gammanpila revealed details of a recent incident involving Pillayan’s legal representation. On April 9th, a junior member of Pillayan’s legal team was denied access to meet him at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Upon hearing this, Gammanpila promptly informed Pillayan’s family and intervened through appropriate legal channels.

He explained the situation to the CID Director, who then requested a formal written application. After submitting the required documentation, Gammanpila was granted a 30-minute meeting with Pillayan on April 13th, which was conducted under the watch of four police officers.

Gammanpila reiterated Pillayan’s dedication to national unity and peace, citing his historic shift away from the LTTE and subsequent efforts to combat terrorism. He questioned the basis of the current investigations, particularly the allegations connecting Pillayan to the 2006 disappearance of Professor S. Ravindranath, then Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University. According to Gammanpila, Pillayan was unaware of any such accusations.

Addressing speculation about a potential link between Pillayan and the Easter Sunday bombings, Gammanpila firmly stated that Pillayan had neither knowledge nor involvement in the attacks. He criticized ongoing investigative approaches, warning that authorities may be attempting to fabricate a so-called “Easter mastermind” through coercive means.