Gammanpila’s Legal Knowledge Questioned Over Misleading Remarks on Penal Code Amendment
Udaya Gammanpila, who previously represented Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan (alias Pillayan) and later served as the lawyer for Suresh Sallay, demonstrated a clear lack of legal clarity in a recent statement made yesterday (10).
Gammanpila’s remarks came following the arrest of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam by the Colombo Crimes Division over an alleged direct death threat made to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Commenting on the arrest, Gammanpila stated:
“Through this arrest, we have come to learn that a king has been born to the country. I was just wondering whether to say ‘Long Live the King’ or not.”
Gammanpila made this statement while offering a malicious and distorted interpretation regarding the charges filed against Sagara Kariyawasam under Section 120 of the Penal Code.
However, Section 120 of the Penal Code was amended in Parliament on January 6, 2021, replacing references to “Her Majesty or the Government” with “the President or the Government of the Republic.” Gammanpila himself was serving as a Cabinet Minister when this legislative amendment was passed.
Legal analysts point out that presenting such distorted interpretations of the Penal Code – despite having been part of the government that enacted the changes – raises serious questions about his legal credibility and professional standing.
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