Former Director of the State Intelligence Service, Major General Suresh Salle has begun a fast unto death while in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department, said Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila.
Calling a special press conference today (06), he stated that Suresh Salle has begun this fast since last night to protest the inhuman torture being inflicted on him.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Udaya Gammanpila also made a strong appeal to him to end the fast unto death with immediate effect and save his life.
Udaya Gammanpila, who said that the media conference was called following an urgent request made by Suresh Sale’s wife and son, stated that the detention was not based on a court order, but on an order issued by the President abusing his powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has already been challenged before the courts.
He said that when his brother and son went to the Criminal Investigation Department to see Suresh Sale this morning, he came to know that he was suffering from a severe mental breakdown.
He stated that last night, Suresh Sale was given a sheet of newspaper as food and only a spoonful of rice and radish gravy were distributed on it, and when he went to pick it up, the newspaper was torn and the food fell on the floor, so he had to eat the food that fell on the floor.
Udaya Gammanpila stated that Suresh Salle, who was deeply shocked by this, had cried and said that he was being treated worse than a dog and had gone on a hunger strike to death, refusing food, water and even medicine.
Mr. Udaya Gammanpila also said that seven police officers were deployed as witnesses to listen to their stories at the time of making this statement.
Also, although Mr. Shani Abeysekara said that there was a shortage of officers to arrest Saharan, today he pointed out that the Criminal Investigation Department has enough officers to deploy seven officers to listen to what Mr. Suresh Salle is talking to his son.
However, since the government will benefit if Suresh Salle dies, Udaya Gammanpila further stated that he is once again requesting his friend to immediately end the hunger strike and prove his innocence by living.