It is reported that several parties have now sought permission from the Court of Appeal to intervene and present their arguments in the writ petition filed by retired Major General Suresh Sale challenging the legality of his arrest and detention.
It is learnt that several prominent monks and organisations are among the parties who have sought permission.
It is learnt that the interlocutory petitions filed include Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, Venerable Dapane Sumanawansa Thero, Dimbulagala Rahulalankara Thero, All Ceylon Buddhist Maha Sammelana Chairman Chandra Nimal Vakishtha and the Global Sri Lankan Forum.
They are requesting the Court of Appeal to issue an order to include them as respondents in the writ application which is currently pending.
In their petition, the interlocutor petitioners point out that the Channel 4 documentary programme was used as a basis for the arrest and detention of Major General Salle. However, they say that official investigations have revealed that the programme lacks credibility and that Salle was not present in Sri Lanka during the relevant period.
Many official investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings have attributed responsibility to Zahran Hashim and his National Thowheeth Jamaat/ISIS. They point out that former National Intelligence Chief Suresh Salle was not involved in those investigations.