Retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former State Intelligence Service chief held in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, is due to have a progress report on the inquiries submitted to the Fort Magistrate’s Court on 21 October.
He was arrested on 25 February 2026 and is being held on a detention order issued under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has since been extended. A medical board reported on 6 October that he was fit to be discharged from hospital, where he had been admitted over health problems during detention.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has told the court that army intelligence received information on extremist groups before the attacks but did not pass it to other security agencies. A witness has also said Sallay advised an intelligence informant who was in contact with four people gathering information on Catholic churches in Negombo about three weeks before the attacks.
Investigators are also examining his conduct in probes after the attacks, including the DNA tests used to confirm the death of Sara Jasmin. The CID has submitted statements from former senior police officers to the court.
Sallay is a suspect and none of the allegations has been proved in court. His lawyers have rejected the allegations and challenged the investigation. He has also petitioned the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of his arrest and detention.
The Court of Appeal is due to announce on 27 November its decision on granting leave to proceed and interim relief.
