No one should be harassed but probe on Sallay should continue: Catholic Church

By Yohan Perera 

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka yesterday stressed that probes on the former State Intelligence Service Chief should continue while no one should be subjected to harassment, Director Communications Archdiocese of Colombo Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said. 

“A motion has been presented to the judiciary on the harassment of Sally. The judiciary should probe it and deliver a judgement on it. We also don’t want anyone harassed. Also, Sallay has not been convicted yet. He is only under probe. Judiciary will decide whether he is guilty or not,” Fr. Fernando told a media briefing. 

Also, he said the issue is with the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which is draconian. This law has existed for many years. Either this law should be amended or abolished. Many have suffered because of this law. This is a different issue. 

There were reports on social media that the arrest of Sally was aimed at preventing me from paying damages to him as per the defamation case he had filed against me. Sallay and his lawyers met me, and they told me that the objective of the case was not to put me into difficulty. He wanted me to withdraw the statement I had made involving him. He said he will withdraw the case in such an eventuality. I refused, as I believe my statement was correct. I wanted to prove I was right. Sally’s arrest has nothing to do with my statement but is based on the available evidence. 

Everyone is aware that we are for meting out justice to all victims of Easter Sunday attacks. Seven years have passed, but some are forced to remain in bed for their lifetime. Some have lost their limbs. Children who lost their parents, parents who lost their children, women who lost their husbands. 

They are still crying and living in pain. We are for these people. Their sorrow cannot be taken away by giving them compensation alone. The case against those who aided Zahran and the gang. There are those who helped plan this attack. Is it a political conspiracy? These have to be found out. A probe has to be conducted. Probe has to be legal and fair. This is what we have been asking for years. No politician should interfere with the probe. We also request that those who are conducting probes do it fairly and independently. Probes are not aimed at holding anyone responsible. 

Also, he said no protest or Sathyagraha should affect the probe that is currently carried out.