Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that the establishment of a French research and training facility at the Trincomalee Navy base posed a serious threat to national security.

Appearing on the Derana ‘360’ programme on Monday night, the former minister and Attorney-at-Law expressed fears over a hidden French motive. The Colombo District lawmaker questioned the Navy accepting the French proposal to set up such a facility, regardless of concerns expressed by the intelligence community.

However, authoritative sources told The Island that the French offer was made to the Kotelawala Defence University though relevant authorities asserted that it would be useful for all concerned to have the facility in Trincomalee where required support facilities were already available. (SF)