Udaya Gammanpila Raises Controversial Questions
(Analysis / Opinion)
January 18, 2026
A lengthy post published by former minister Udaya Gammanpila on his Facebook page has triggered intense debate across social media and political circles. The post raises a series of open questions regarding the death of politician Nandana Gunathilaka.
Gammanpila notes that he has known Gunathilaka for more than 26 years, particularly during the early years of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration. He recalls that Gunathilaka was among the vocal critics who openly challenged the government at the time.
In his post, Gammanpila highlights Gunathilaka’s controversial statements regarding the appointment of Ranga Dissanayake as the Director General of the Bribery Commission. Gunathilaka reportedly described the appointment as a “corrupt manoeuvre” and claimed to have evidence supporting his allegations. Gammanpila suggests that this stance placed both men under strong political pressure.
The most striking part of Gammanpila’s post is his claim that Gunathilaka faced threats to his life prior to his death. According to Gammanpila, Gunathilaka had warned him that he might suffer harm through an attack or a staged road accident.
Gammanpila also mentions that journalist Priyanjith Witharana and politician Varun Rajapaksa had publicly stated on social media that they too had received threats to their lives, including threats directed at Gunathilaka. Gammanpila says these claims were based on information and experiences shared with him.
Gammanpila further describes Gunathilaka’s deteriorating health, his transfer from Jayawardenepura Hospital to Ragama Hospital, and the severe condition he was in during that period. He claims that Gunathilaka appeared to be “on the verge of death” while hospitalised.
Taking all these points together, Gammanpila’s post ends not with a conclusion but with a question.
“Did he die naturally, or was he killed?”
This question, he argues, is not meant as an accusation but as a call for public discussion and scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding Gunathilaka’s death.
Editor’s Note
This article is an analysis/opinion piece based on a post published by Udaya Gammanpila on his Facebook page on 18 January 2026. The views expressed are not those of Asian Tribune and do not represent the organisation’s stance.
Source
Udaya Gammanpila – Facebook
