Social media responses to the Galle signature campaign to save Salé

A program to collect signatures for a public petition in support of Mr. Suresh Salley, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, who is currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department concerning investigations related to the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, was implemented today (18) in the Galle area.

It is reported that a similar signature campaign was organized a few days ago, specifically on the 14th, in the Maharagama area.

The judicial charges leveled against Mr. Suresh Salley, who is currently being detained and questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department, are related to the investigations into the Easter attack.

However, there has been widespread discussion on social media that there is a political motive behind this signature campaign.

Many social media users have expressed their opinion that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) fears that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's name will be revealed through these investigations into the Easter attack, and that they are attempting to create such public protests with the aim of preventing that situation.

An analysis of the social media responses to this incident clearly shows that the majority of the public has strongly criticized this petition campaign.

Many people challenged that if such a signature campaign is organized, it should be carried out in areas affected by the Easter attack, such as Negombo and Katuwapitiya.

The opinion of the majority has been that if a suspect is innocent, it should be proven in court, and obstructing the rule of law and the judicial process by signing petitions in this manner cannot be approved.

Furthermore, some users have questioned why there was no such patriotic concern when military leaders like Mr. Sarath Fonseka, who led the country to war victory, were arrested in the past.

The public has strongly emphasized on social media that the law should apply equally to everyone, and that justice should be served for the innocent lives lost in the Easter attack, rather than attempting to save suspects based on political agendas.

Although a small number of people have expressed support for this officer, referring to him as a war hero, the strong voice emerging from social media as a whole is that the process of punishing criminals should be allowed to proceed and the true facts should be revealed to the country.