Sallay proposed settlement in court, claims Father Cyril Gamini

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka states that investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks should not be halted for any reason.

Speaking at a press conference held today (08) at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Father Cyril Gamini, expressed these views.

He said that former Director of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sale had once personally requested to settle a defamation case filed against him, in which Father Cyril is the complainant, but that he had declined the request.

Father Cyril stated:
“There are posts on social media saying that Suresh Sale has filed a defamation case against Father Cyril Gamini and is seeking compensation. That defamation case is currently being heard. It is being claimed that he was arrested in order to obstruct or derail this case and prevent compensation from being paid.”

“However, he was arrested based on evidence uncovered through investigations. I must also say something for the first time. It is true that the defamation case exists. On the first day of the case, after proceedings ended, Mr. Suresh Sale came and met me inside the court itself. He told me, ‘Father, I did not file this case to embarrass you; I filed it to protect my name. We can settle this case.’”

He further added:
“At that time, there was a priest present with me, along with my legal team led by President’s Counsel Shamil Perera. I asked him what his condition for settlement was. He said he wanted me to remove his name from my statement. I told him that I had already made that statement including his name, and I would not withdraw it. Even today, I believe my statement is correct. I said there was no need to settle the case; we should proceed with it.”

Father Cyril further emphasized that arrest proceedings and investigations are separate from civil compensation cases, and stated that there had been allegations of a conspiracy behind the bombers, raising questions of whether it was a political conspiracy and who the planners were.

He added that uncovering the truth is the right of victims and insisted that no political party or politician should interfere with ongoing investigations.