Gammanpila told me that Salley started a hunger strike due to inhumane treatment

The leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya and former minister Udaya Gammanpila revealed that Major General Suresh Salley, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, who is currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has commenced a hunger strike since last night against the inhumane treatment he is subjected to. Mr. Gammanpila made this statement addressing a special press conference held today (06) and also made a strong request to Mr. Salley to immediately abandon the strike and protect his life.

Mr. Gammanpila stated that this press conference was convened following an urgent notification from Mr. Suresh Salley's wife and son. The former minister pointed out that Mr. Salley's detention was not carried out under a court order, but was a result of an order given by the President misusing powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He also emphasized that this order has already been challenged in court.

When Mr. Salley's brother and son visited him at the Criminal Investigation Department this morning, he was found to be severely mentally distressed. Last night, when he was given food, a newspaper page was spread on the floor, and only rice and radish curry were served on it. When he tried to pick it up, the newspaper tore, and the food fell to the floor, forcing him to eat the fallen food. Mr. Gammanpila explained that Mr. Salley, deeply shocked and weeping, stated that he was being treated worse than a dog and has thus commenced a hunger strike, rejecting all food, water, and medicine.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed at this press conference that the Criminal Investigation Department had deployed seven police officers to listen in on the conversation between Mr. Salley and his family members. Mr. Gammanpila pointed out that while Mr. Shani Abeysekera had previously stated there weren't enough officers to arrest Zaharan, it is ironic that today the CID has enough officers to listen to a conversation between a father and a son. He further urged his friend, Mr. Suresh Salley, to abandon the strike and live to prove his innocence, as any harm to his life at this juncture would politically benefit the current government.