News Today: Gammanpila Defends Pilleyan Falsely Accused in Easter Bombings Case

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila has come forward defending Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, better known as Pilleyan, claiming that the former State Minister is being falsely accused of involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Gammanpila emphasized that Pilleyan played a crucial role in combating LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province and is now being unfairly held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for a separate disappearance case.

Speaking to the media, Gammanpila shared an emotional recount of his recent conversation with Pilleyan on April 13th, during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, in the presence of four police officers. “With tears rolling down his cheeks, Pilleyan described how he defected from the LTTE and risked his life to fight against the organization,” Gammanpila said.

Gammanpila strongly criticized those who now accuse Pilleyan, despite his imprisonment between 2015 and 2020, which makes it impossible for him to be involved in the 2019 Easter attacks. “If someone is blaming a person in custody during the attacks, that person’s mental state should be questioned,” he added, pointing out that several politicians have been photographed with Zahran Hashim, the known mastermind of the bombings.

The PHU leader also accused the President and the Minister of Law and Order of spreading baseless claims. He said that although the President signed the detention order against Pilleyan, no evidence has been produced linking him to the Easter Sunday tragedy.

Moreover, Gammanpila pointed out that the President had promised to reveal significant updates on the Easter attack investigation before April 21st, but with only a few days remaining, no revelations have been made. “The police have misled the President,” he concluded.