The said Letter of Demand sent through Major General Sallay’s lawyer, Pasan Weerasinghe, Attorney-at-Law, states that "on or about 01st June 2020, Ms. Yasmin Sooka, in her capacity as the Executive Director of the ITJP has issued a press statement making various defamatory remarks against Major General Sallay."
First time in history!
This is the first time an officer engaged in active duty has sought legal recourse against an international organisation.
In a press release issued on June 01, Sooka stated that Suresh Sallay allegedly forced a Tamil doctor taken into custody in 2009 to give false testimony by denying him medical treatment and by keeping him in prolonged detention without trial in contravention of the Convention of Torture. Dr. Thurairajah Varatharajah was said to have connections with LTTE and is currently residing in the United States.
Wasn't even in Sri Lanka when Lasantha was murdered!
Sooka alleged that Sallay’s top aide was reportedly picked out as a suspect in the Lasantha Wickrematunge case in an identification parade.
However, Major General Sallay categorically denied those accusations and pointed out that he was not even in the country at the time of Lasantha's murder. He said that he arrived in Sri Lanka on 01 March 2009.
The Letter of Demand highlights the defamatory implications have resulted in parties with vested interests making attempts on the life of Major General Sallay.
Furthermore, it states that the defamatory remarks of Sooka published by the ITJP Sri Lanka website have caused unto the Major General’s character and reputation a significant damage, which the Major General has valued at LKR 1 billion and in turn, demanded that Sooka and ITJP pay.
“Major General Suresh Sallay to institute legal action against Yasmin Sooka and ITJP”
Major Genaral Suresh Tuan Sallay, the Incumbent Director of the State Intelligence Services of Sri Lanka has taken steps to send a Letter of Demand to Ms. Yasmin Sooka and the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP).
The said Letter of Demand sent through Major General Sallay’s Lawyer: Pasan Weerasinghe, Attorney-at-Law, states that on or about 01st June 2020, Ms. Yasmin Sooka, in her capacity as the Executive Director of the ITJP has issued a press statement making various defamatory remarks against Major General Sallay. The press statement is said to be published via the ITJP Sri Lanka’s website.
The Letter of Demand highlights the defamatory implications have resulted in parties with vested interests making attempts on the life of Major General Sallay. Further, the Letter of Demand goes on to mention the numerous awards and achievements of Major General Sallay and the resultant character and reputation he has thus garnered.
Further, it states that the defamatory remarks of Ms. Sooka published by the ITJP Sri Lanka website have caused unto the Major General’s character and reputation a significant damage, which the Major General has valued at 1 Billion Sri Lankan Rupees and in turn, demanded that Ms. Sooka and ITJP pay.
The Letter of Demand has also notified Ms. Sooka and the ITJP to cease and desist from issuing further defamatory remarks and the intention of Major General Sallay to seek litigative remedies, both Civil and or Criminal, if Ms. Sooka and the ITJP fails to adhere to said demands.
