Sallay was arrested over Easter attack based on evidence: Police

Colombo, February 26 (Daily Mirror) - Amid mounting pressure and criticism over the arrest of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Chief Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, Police yesterday said that the arrest was carried out based on sufficient evidence linking the former intelligence chief to the Easter Sunday attacks.

Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said that Sallay was taken into custody early yesterday morning in Peliyagoda by a team of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, is to be detained for 72 hours for questioning.

Following the arrest, Western Province Senior DIG Sajeewa Medawatte addressed the media to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the former SIS chief. The arrest has sparked significant public interest due to the high-ranking nature of the official involved and his role during the period of the tragedy.

Senior DIG Sajeewa Medawatte said that the arrest was made based on evidence uncovered in relation to the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

While he refrained from detailing the specific nature of the evidence at this early stage, he said that the decision was a direct result of ongoing investigations conducted by the CID and findings from previous commissions of inquiry.

Addressing questions regarding the timing and the potential for a "political campaign" behind the arrest, the Senior DIG said that the police are simply performing their duty to ensure national security.

He further said that information regarding the alleged mastermind of the Easter attacks could emerge during the ongoing interrogations of the retired Major General.

The Senior DIG requested patience from the media and the public, stating that the suspect was arrested early in the yesterday morning and is currently being questioned under detention orders. He said that more details regarding the specific charges and the progress of the interrogation would be shared in the coming days as the legal process unfolds.

Responding to criticism over the arrest without immediate disclosure of details, he said that if the arrest had not been made, there would have been criticism against the police for failing to act.

Meanwhile, Police Legal Division DIG Jaliya Senaratne, who also addressed the media, explained that under the PTA, a suspect can be detained for up to three days upon arrest.

He said that based on evidence, police may seek a detention order as provided for under the law.

Former Minister Ali Sabry and former MP Udaya Gammanpila have raised serious concerns over the arrest of the former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Chief, warning of wider implications for the Sri Lanka Army and its Intelligence Corps.

Former Minister Ali Sabry has expressed concern over the arrest of former State Intelligence Chief, describing it as a troubling development for the Sri Lanka Army and its Intelligence Corps.

Sabry stated that many of the officers who once risked their lives during the country’s most dangerous years now appear to be drawn into what he described as a political battlefield shaped by competing narratives rather than evidence. While acknowledging that accountability under the law is essential in a democracy, he emphasized that it must be pursued with fairness, restraint, and respect for institutional integrity.

He said national security institutions cannot become collateral damage in political contests.

“Undermining officers who once safeguarded the country may offer temporary political advantage, but it weakens morale within the armed forces and sends a troubling signal to those tasked with protecting the nation,” he said.

At the time of the Easter Sunday attacks on 21 April 2019, Sallay held the rank of Brigadier. He later served as Director of Army Intelligence and went on to become the State Intelligence Chief. Most recently, he had been working as an advisor at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Former MP Udaya Gammanpila has also accused the government of orchestrating a "theatrical performance" by targeting former SIS chief. Gammanpila claims this move is a calculated attempt to divert public attention away from the ongoing coal procurement scandal.

Gammanpila said that there has long been a desire among "separatist forces" to seek revenge against Sallay due to his decisive role in defeating terrorism. He referenced the 2023 Channel 4 documentary, which alleged Sallay was a mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks, calling it a fabricated narrative designed for political retaliation.

The former MP further said that the current government rose to power by leveraging these allegations and is now under immense pressure to identify a "mastermind" for the 2019 bombings.

He said that while there were initial plans to arrest Sallay before the general election, the release of the Alwis Committee report commissioned by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe would have exposed these claims as false

Gammanpila claimed that the government intended to make an arrest in April to coincide with the anniversary of the attacks. However, he believes the timeline was moved up specifically to shield the administration from the fallout of the coal fraud investigation.