Sri Lal Reveals Possible Arrest of Former Intelligence Chief Suresh Sallay Over Easter Attacks
Investigative journalist Sri Lal Priyantha has reported via his Eethalaya News YouTube channel that former State Intelligence Service Director Major General Suresh Sallay is expected to be arrested in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. According to Priyantha, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is conducting a covert operation in collaboration with France and Switzerland to uncover the masterminds behind the attacks.
International Investigation and Possible Arrest
The Easter Sunday bombings, which took place on April 21, 2019, were a series of coordinated suicide attacks targeting churches and luxury hotels across Sri Lanka. The attacks resulted in the deaths of over 250 individuals and injured more than 500. Initially, the responsibility was attributed to Islamic extremist groups, including National Thowheeth Jama'ath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim, allegedly linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).
Priyantha's revelations suggest that Sallay, who was the head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence at the time, has been accused of playing a key role in orchestrating the attacks. He allegedly operated under the alias "Abuhit" and facilitated the attacks as part of a broader plan to create instability in Sri Lanka.
A 2023 report by the Daily Express (dailyexpress.lk) claimed that the bombings were politically motivated, with evidence pointing to a conspiracy to destabilize the Yahapalana government of Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe. The report cited statements from whistleblowers, including Hanzeer Azad Maulana, a former aide to a political figure associated with the Rajapaksas. Maulana alleged that Sallay had been involved in planning the attacks for years, intending to create chaos and insecurity to pave the way for Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential victory in November 2019.
Suresh Sallay’s Denial and Ongoing Investigations
Despite the allegations, Major General Suresh Sallay has denied any involvement, calling the claims "outright false" and maintaining that he had no contact with the individuals making the accusations. He previously stated that such allegations were politically motivated fabrications designed to tarnish his reputation. (Colombo Gazette)
Meanwhile, the CID has arrested 747 individuals in connection with the bombings, with 41 cases already filed and 14 indictments submitted to the High Court. The ongoing operation, reportedly backed by French and Swiss authorities, seeks to identify key perpetrators, including those in military intelligence, who may have played a role in enabling or orchestrating the attacks.
New Witness and Possible Breakthrough
According to Eethalaya News, a key Sri Lankan witness, Mohamed Ilyas, who possesses critical information about the financing and planning of the attacks, is currently in Switzerland. The Sri Lankan government has reportedly taken steps through the High Commission in France to bring Ilyas back to Sri Lanka for questioning. If successful, his testimony could lead to major arrests, including that of Suresh Sallay.
The Easter Sunday attacks remain a deeply sensitive issue in Sri Lanka, with Catholic Church leaders and victims' families demanding a transparent investigation into possible state complicity. With the new government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake promising a full inquiry, the nation now waits to see whether the CID’s operation will bring justice to the victims of Sri Lanka’s deadliest terrorist attack in recent history.
Watch Sri Lal Priyantha’s Full Report:
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