- Public Security Minister makes ‘tell-all’ statement in Parliament
- Says ex-SIS Chief refused passwords to mobile, laptop
- Claims evidence confirms involvement in attacks conspiracy
- Rejects allegations Sallay had been subjected to torture
Claiming that Retired Major General and former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director, Suresh Sallay has not provided any meaningful cooperation to investigators since his arrest, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that scientific and other evidence obtained during the investigation had, however, confirmed his alleged involvement in a conspiracy linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Making a statement in Parliament yesterday (10), he rejected allegations that Sallay had been subjected to torture or inhumane treatment while in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), claiming that certain groups are attempting to mislead the public by spreading false information regarding his arrest and detention. "Some groups are making various false and misleading statements about the arrest, detention and alleged torture of Sallay. There is a deliberate attempt to mislead society."
He said that further investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, the events leading up to the attacks and their aftermath were launched under the investigation file number 544/2024 CM to uncover previously undisclosed facts and to identify those responsible for the coordinated attacks.
According to him, the CID sought legal advice from the Attorney General (AG) at the initial stage of the investigation under the reference CR1/316/2024 to address any legal issues that could arise during the inquiry. He said that facts relating to the investigation had also been reported to the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court under the case number B35882/2024 and that investigators are continuing to receive legal guidance from State Counsels appointed by the AG.
Wijepala said that investigations had uncovered sufficient material to reasonably believe that Sallay, who served as the Director of Military Intelligence and later as the SIS Director, had strategically guided Islamic extremists in a conspiracy leading up to the Easter Sunday terror attacks. He alleged that about three weeks before the bombings, Sallay had deployed four Muslim individuals to gather sensitive information, including the number of worshippers attending services at Catholic churches in Negombo. He said that a witness had later identified the photograph of the principal individual involved in that operation from a collection of photographs of wanted Islamic extremists maintained by the CID. Investigations, he said, had revealed that the individual was an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser who had disappeared after the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Wijepala further said that military intelligence had been informed through an intelligence source residing in Panadura that the National Thowheed Jama'ath (NTJ) led by Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Zahran alias Zahran Hashim was planning an attack. According to him, the information was ignored by sections of the Military Intelligence, creating an opportunity for the Easter bombings to take place. He claimed that after the informant reported that the attacks were being directed by a senior military officer, the individual (informant) was unlawfully arrested and detained before being released.
"After his release, Sallay had the informant brought to the Galadari Hotel in Colombo, met him, discussed the matter and even apologised to him," he told Parliament. He also referred to statements made by Mohamed Milhan Mohamed Hanzeer, alias Azad Maulana, to Britain's Channel 4 television network, claiming that those disclosures supported allegations that Sallay had systematically created the background necessary for the attacks. He said that investigators had formally recorded a statement from Maulana and that the witness had disclosed highly sensitive information relating to the Easter attacks.
He said that investigators had concluded that Sallay had prior knowledge of the Easter attacks and had conspired to facilitate them while also preventing the disclosure of highly sensitive information before and after the bombings. He alleged that Sallay had directly and indirectly aided the perpetrators and acted to conceal the individuals and groups behind the attacks, amounting to offences under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA).
Accordingly, he said, Sallay was arrested by the CID at 8 a.m. on 25 February. Wijepala said that the suspect had been allowed to consult his lawyers and obtain legal advice. He added that CID officers had also taken him to his residence, explained the reasons for the arrest to his family, including his wife, and handed over the official receipt issued upon arrest. He further said that the CID had also informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) in writing of the arrest and detention and had also produced Sallay before the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) following his arrest. He said that a 72-hour detention order (DO) had initially been obtained under the PTA, followed by a 90-day DO to facilitate further investigations.
He said that the CID had informed the Court that Sallay was being detained and investigated under the relevant DOs and had named him as the third suspect in the case, producing him before Court whenever the matter was called. The HRCSL and the suspect's close relatives had also been informed of the DOs and all the necessary facilities had been provided to him, he said. "Sallay has been allowed to meet his lawyers every Wednesday for legal consultations. Every Friday, he has been permitted to speak over the telephone with his wife, mother and close relatives, while every Saturday, family members have been allowed to visit him and provide home-cooked food, clothing, beverages and nutritional supplements including fish oil."
He said that the Colombo Fort Magistrate had personally visited the CID detention facility in terms of the PTA and observed Sallay's condition. "At no stage did he complain of torture or inhumane treatment. When the Magistrate questioned him, he made no such allegation, nor has any complaint been made against investigating officers to the Magistrate or any other authority," he said.
Wijepala said that following requests made by Sallay's lawyers, the Court ordered that he be produced before the Chief JMO of Colombo on 29 April. The suspect had sought referrals to specialists in psychiatry, dermatology, neurology and nutrition and, acting on the recommendations of the Chief JMO and Court orders, the authorities had facilitated those consultations, he said. He said that Sallay had been examined by a dermatologist at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo on 29 April and been treated for a skin condition, with the prescribed medication being supplied to him. On the same day, he had been examined by a nutrition specialist and provided with nutritional supplements and vitamins, which he continues to receive.
Several laboratory investigations had also been recommended, and the necessary arrangements had been made through the Medical Research Institute. He said that Sallay had also been examined by a neurologist on 29 April and, following the recommendation for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, the test was carried out at the NHSL in Colombo on 2 May. The MRI report had subsequently been submitted to the specialist for further evaluation. He added that Sallay was also examined by an eye specialist at the National Eye Hospital on 26 May.
Wijepala said that the suspect had already been suffering from an ear condition at the time of his arrest and had been referred to a specialist for treatment. He added that Sallay also had an artificial tooth that had become dislodged before his arrest and that arrangements had been made for dental treatment to have it refitted.
Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, he said, the CID had sought and obtained an order from the Court on 3 June, preventing former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and two others from leaving the country. Sallay's DO had also been extended for a further 90 days from 27 May.
Wijepala claimed that Sallay's conduct changed significantly after those legal developments. "After the travel ban was obtained against Rajapaksa, the suspect completely changed his behaviour and began acting in a manner that obstructed the investigation. He began a hunger strike on the night of 5 June. The following day (6 June), he refused food brought by his brother and son and later rejected food despite being allowed to meet his wife, brother and son at his wife's request."
As his condition deteriorated, he said that the Director of the Police Hospital and another MO had examined him, with a further medical assessment on 7 June having confirmed that his blood sugar level had dropped. "He was immediately admitted to the NHSL in Colombo under maximum security, first receiving treatment at the Emergency Treatment Unit before being transferred for further care. He is currently receiving treatment under medical supervision and is being provided with psychiatric, physical and nutritional care," he said.
Wijepala maintained that Sallay had failed to cooperate with investigators from the day of his arrest and had refused to provide passwords required to analyse the data stored on his Apple mobile phone and laptop computer. "He has not provided any positive assistance to the investigation and is attempting to conceal important information. However, the scientific evidence and other evidence already gathered have clearly established his connection to this conspiracy," he said.
"We will continue this investigation properly. No hunger strike or Satyagraha protest will stop it. We are not prepared to halt this investigation because of such actions. Certain bankrupt political parties are trying to mislead the public, but, the investigations will proceed according to the law," he added.