Officers accused of failing to stop Easter Attacks now investigating Sallay- President’s Counsel

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General Suresh Sallay through his lawyer yesterday informed the Court of Appeal that senior police officers including Shani Abeysekera and Ravi Seneviratne who had been identified by several investigations as having failed to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks are now leading investigations against him.  

President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, appearing for Sallay, made the submission when a writ petition filed by Sallay challenging the legality of his arrest and detention in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks was taken up before the Court of Appeal.  

Jayawardena told court that several investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, including the committee headed by Justice Jayaki de Alwis, had recommended criminal action against Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekera and then Deputy Inspector General in charge of the CID Ravi Seneviratne for their alleged failure to discharge their duties despite receiving prior warnings of the attacks.  

He further submitted that a series of inquiries conducted following the Easter Sunday bombings had found no evidence implicating Salley. These included investigations by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, Parliamentary Select Committee, Sectoral Oversight Committee, the committee headed by Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz Imam, the Justice Jayaki de Alwis Committee, the Justice Janak de Silva Committee, and proceedings before the Supreme Court relating to the Easter Sunday attacks.  

Addressing the court in detail, Jayawardena referred to findings of the Justice Janak de Silva Committee and said the report contained extensive material regarding ISIS radicalisation efforts targeting Sri Lanka, supported by numerous intelligence reports.  

“Shani Abeysekera, who failed to discharge his duties as CID Director, has now become the investigator of Suresh Sallay,” Jayawardena submitted.  

The writ petition was heard before a two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice (President) Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.  

After hearing submissions, the Court fixed further hearing of the matter for July 10.  

Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.  

In his petition, Suresh Sallay seeks an interim order to stay the operation of the detention order issued against him under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He has also sought an interim order suspending all further proceedings against him before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.  

The respondents named in the petition include Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekera, the Magistrate of Colombo Fort, the Attorney General, and several others.  

According to the petition, the investigation is based on a complaint lodged with the CID on October 4, 2024, by Rev. Fr. Rohan de Silva regarding allegations made in a documentary aired by the UK-based Channel 4 television network. The documentary featured claims by an individual identified as Mohommed Mihilal Mohommed Hanzir, also known as Azath Maulana, alleging a connection between Sallay and the Easter Sunday attacks.  

Sallay has strongly denied the allegations, asserting that he was not in Sri Lanka during the periods in which he is alleged to have had contact with extremist preacher Zahran Hashim or his associates.  

The petitioner states that he served as Minister Counsellor at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia from December 2016 to December 2018 and was residing in Malaysia during that period. He further states that from January 7, 2019, to November 29, 2019, he was in India attending the 59th National Security and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College in New Delhi.  

He further stated that the Easter Sunday attacks took place on April 21, 2019, during which time he was in India, not Sri Lanka.