Former MP Udaya Gammanpila today alleged that former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director and retired Major General Suresh Sallay has begun a hunger strike while in police custody, claiming he is being subjected to inhumane treatment.
Addressing a special media briefing, Gammanpila said the event was organized at the request of Sallay’s wife and son to convey what they described as urgent concerns regarding his condition.
According to Gammanpila, Sallay’s son visited him on Saturday morning and found him in a distressed state.
Gammanpila alleged that Sallay had informed family members that he was provided only a small portion of rice and radish curry for dinner on Friday night and claimed the food had been served on a sheet of newspaper placed on the floor.
He further claimed that the meal had fallen to the ground while Sallay was attempting to pick it up, leaving him emotionally distressed and unwilling to eat.
As a result, Gammanpila alleged that Sallay had commenced a hunger strike from Friday night in protest against what he described as inhumane treatment while in custody.
The former MP also claimed that Sallay has refused water, medication, and food, and had reportedly told his son that he was being treated “worse than a dog” while questioning the reasons for such treatment.
According to Gammanpila, Sallay had expressed a desire to continue the protest despite concerns about his health, citing what he described as false allegations and poor treatment.
Sallay, a retired Major General, was appointed Director of the State Intelligence Service in 2019 shortly after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office.
He has faced allegations regarding involvement in the organization of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, accusations that he has consistently denied.
The claims regarding Sallay’s treatment and alleged hunger strike were made by Gammanpila on behalf of the former intelligence chief’s family during the media briefing.
There was no immediate response from Police or relevant authorities regarding the allegations at the time of reporting.
