Gammanpila questioned on alleged defamatory remarks

MP Udaya Gammanpila leaves the Keselwatta Police Station after being questioned. PHU Media Secretary Thushara Dissanayake is also present - Pic by Lahiru Harshana 

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader MP Udaya Gammanpila was questioned by police yesterday over alleged defamatory remarks made about a court order in connection with bail given to MP Hirunika Premachandra after she was arrested for abducting a youth in Dematagoda.  

Earlier Keselwatta Police had received a complaint that Gammanpila had, in front of media, criticised the court order giving bail for Premachandra. When Police sought the Attorney General’s decision on the matter the Attorney General’s Department has directed Police to summon Gammanpila to record a statement regarding the incident. 

After being questioned by police, Gammanpila told media that the Government had tried to send him to prison a second time by leveling false allegations against him. He further claimed the real culprit of the Dematagoda kidnapping incident Premachandra was out on bail while he was questioned over critisising the incident.  

Last January, the Keselwatta police informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya that Gammanpila had made a statement criticising court procedures. 

Police filed the case following a complaint made by Attorney-at-law Amila Indika. The complainant alleged that Gammanpila had made a statement to media on 11 January, publicly criticising the judicial decision to grant Premachandra bail.

The complainant further alleged that Gammanpila had committed a serious offence and could be arrested without a warrant. (CG)