Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila today challenged Cabinet Media Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa to have him arrested and produced in court on the 27th, as previously stated.
He also stressed that, whether he is arrested or not, the mastermind behind the Easter attacks will be revealed on March 31.
Gammanpila made these remarks at a media briefing held at the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya party office today (23).
Speaking at the briefing, he said:
“Last week, at the government’s media briefing, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that if I am not arrested in connection with the case on the 27th, the Easter mastermind will be exposed on the 31st. I challenge Minister Nalinda to arrest me on the 27th, if possible. We believed he had given up after attempting to arrest me six times.
Honourable Minister, I have not committed any theft, robbery, or adultery to warrant an arrest. I have not even taken a government-owned ballpoint pen home. Therefore, I request you not to measure me at the level of your ministers.
It is because we have done nothing wrong that your government has continued to make false statements since coming to power.
You are the ones who arrest individuals on false charges and detain them without producing them in court. This is what happened to both Pillayan and Suresh Saleh.
We are aware that we could be falsely arrested to prevent the exposure of the mastermind. However, we are prepared for that. Whether we are in custody or free, the book exposing the mastermind will be released on March 31. Even if I am no longer alive, the book will still be released on that date.”
