Priests protest in support of Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini

COLOMBO (News 1st); Priests staged a protest opposite the Colombo High Court on Monday (8), in support of the FR application filed by Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando. The Maha Sangha also supported the protest, while the FR application was being taken up at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Rev. Fr. Jude Krishantha, the Media Director of the Archdiocese of Colombo told News 1st that it is embarrasing that the Head of State Intelligence was threatened by a statement made by Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando. "SIS Chief (Major General) Suresh Salley has said that Rev. Fr. Gamini's statement had put his and his family's lives at risk, and that is why Rev. Fr. Gamini is being summoned to the CID," said Rev. Fr. Jude Krishantha. Rev. Fr. Manjula Niroshan also told reporters that the parishioners from Katuwapitiya will continue to stand for Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini and for justice. At the same time, Venerable Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero who supported the protest said the government had fallen to a low level that they try to imprison those who seek justice. "As religious leaders, we have a right to oppose such moved and demand justice for the victims," said the Venerable Thero. Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department informed the Supreme Court via the Attorney General’s Department that Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando will not be arrested. Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando filed a Fundamental Rights application with the Supreme Court on Tuesday (2) seeking an order to prevent any attempt being made by the Criminal Investigations Department to arrest him, after summoning him to the CID to record a statement. The Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General Suresh Salley, and the Attorney General were named as respondents among others. The Director-General of the State Intelligence Service Major General Suresh Salley filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department on 25th October 2021 against multiple malicious statements made in reference to him, with regard to the 2019 Easter Attacks, by Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando. Major General Suresh Salley had stressed that he vehemently rejects the allegations made against him by Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando, also stressed that the allegations made to bring disrepute to him, are false. Suresh Salley in his complaint requested for the Criminal Investigations Department to institute legal action against Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando. In the Fundamental Rights application filed by Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando noted that there is an attempt to arrest him after he provides a statement to the CID. Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando had requested the Supreme Court issue an order on the IGP, CID, and other officials preventing them from arresting him until the examination of the FR application is over.