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PersonIn custody

Suresh Sallay

Listed from published reports. Appearing here is not a finding of wrongdoing. The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.

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Details

Role

Retired Major General; head of the State Intelligence Service, December 2019 to 2024

Earlier

Former head of military intelligence

Status

Arrested 25 February 2026; detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act as of 6 October 2026. His Court of Appeal case challenging the arrest and detention is pending; on 14 October 2026 the court postponed its order on petitions to intervene to 22 October

Position

Denies any involvement

Appears on

Easter attacks
Attacks on journalists and media, 2009 to 2026

Last checked

16 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Coming court dates

22 Oct 2026

Court of Appeal to deliver its order on petitions seeking to intervene in his case challenging his arrest and detention

Connections (12)

• Suresh Sallay / Became intelligence chief under / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
  • AFP: Brigadier Suresh Sallay was named head of the State Intelligence Service three weeks after Rajapaksa was elected, the first military officer in the post.10 Dec 2019 · Daily FT · Govt. shakes up intelligence agency after Easter Sunday attacks
  • Rajapaksa said the two had no contact between 2015, when he left as Defence Secretary, and his election in 2019.7 Sep 2023 · Ada Derana · 'An anti-Rajapaksa tirade': Gotabaya slams Channel 4 exposé on Easter attacks
• Suresh Sallay / Head of, 2019 to 2024 / State Intelligence Service
  • AFP: named to head the State Intelligence Service in December 2019.10 Dec 2019 · Daily FT · Govt. shakes up intelligence agency after Easter Sunday attacks
  • Reports that he was dismissed after Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidency in 2024.25 Feb 2026 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka's former intelligence chief arrested over 2019 Easter attacks
• Hanzeer Azad Maulana / Alleges he met the bombers in 2018 / Suresh SallayAllegation
  • Maulana said he arranged a meeting in Puttalam in January 2018 between Sallay and NTJ members including Zahran Hashim. Sallay told the programme he was in Malaysia at the time of the alleged meeting and in India when the attacks happened.6 Sep 2023 · Ada Derana · Channel 4 broadcasts controversial exposé on 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka
  • The Defence Ministry said Sallay served in Malaysia from December 2016 to December 2018 and was never in Sri Lanka during the period described.9 Sep 2023 · Ada Derana · Defense Ministry categorically denies Channel 4's "outrageous" claims on Easter attacks
• Criminal Investigation Department / Arrested, February 2026 / Suresh SallayAllegation
  • An investigator said: “He was arrested for conspiracy and aiding and abetting the Easter Sunday attacks.” Sallay had previously denied involvement.25 Feb 2026 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka's former intelligence chief arrested over 2019 Easter attacks
  • A special CID team arrested him in Peliyagoda in the early hours of 25 February 2026.25 Feb 2026 · Ada Derana · Former Head of State Intelligence Suresh Sallay arrested by CID
  • To be detained for 90 days for questioning over the attacks.28 Feb 2026 · Newswire · Former State Intelligence Chief to Be Detained for 90 Days Over Easter Attack Probe
  • On 5 March 2026 the CID told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court it had named him the third suspect in the investigation; a former Eastern Province police superintendent and two others had been named before him. Asked whether there was evidence, the CID said its investigations had uncovered some. The article does not describe it.5 Mar 2026 · Newswire · CID names Suresh Sallay as third suspect in Easter attacks probe
  • Found fit for discharge from hospital and due to return to CID custody; detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.6 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Suresh Sallay fit for hospital discharge, to return to CID custody
• Ananda Wijepala / Told parliament he directed the attackers / Suresh SallayAllegation
  • AFP: the minister told parliament that Sallay “conspired with and strategically directed Islamic extremists until they carried out the attacks”. Sallay, through his lawyer, denied any involvement.10 Jun 2026 · AFP (via Macau Business) · Sri Lanka says spy chief 'directed' Easter bombings
  • AFP: investigators believed the aim was to create chaos and present Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the leader best placed to restore security. Sallay denies the allegations and remains in custody.22 Sep 2026 · AFP (via France 24) · Sri Lanka hands 220-year jail terms to 15 convicted of Easter bombings
• Suresh Sallay / Dismissed after election of / Anura Kumara Dissanayake
  • Reports that he was dismissed after Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidency in 2024.25 Feb 2026 · Al Jazeera · Sri Lanka's former intelligence chief arrested over 2019 Easter attacks
• Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith / Asked court to dismiss petition by / Suresh Sallay
  • He filed an intervention in the Court of Appeal asking it to reject Sallay’s challenge to any arrest or detention, arguing it could impede the CID investigation.16 Jul 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith seeks dismissal of Suresh Sallay's writ petition over Easter Sunday attacks probe
  • The article names him among those who petitioned the Court of Appeal for permission to intervene and make submissions in the case Sallay filed challenging his arrest and detention by the CID. The Court of Appeal postponed its order on those petitions, due on 14 October 2026, to 22 October.14 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Court postpones order on petitions linked to Suresh Salley’s arrest
• Dileepa Peiris / Told court that officers linked to him withheld warnings / Suresh SallayAllegation
  • On 15 September 2026 he alleged that officers linked to Sallay had withheld information, and that Sallay’s medical leave of about 100 days was being used to obstruct the investigation. His counsel replied that statements in police reports to court are not evidence in themselves. The article notes that the allegations have not been established by any court.15 Sep 2026 · Newswire · Easter Attacks: Explosive new allegations over intelligence role revealed in court
• Suresh Sallay / Former head of / Military intelligence (Sri Lanka Army)
  • AFP describes him as a former head of military intelligence.10 Dec 2019 · Daily FT · Govt. shakes up intelligence agency after Easter Sunday attacks
• Contempt referral over protest statements, 2026 / Concerns a protest against the arrest of / Suresh Sallay
  • The Fort Magistrate’s Court asked for contempt proceedings over statements six people allegedly made at a protest held from 7 to 15 July 2026 against Sallay’s arrest.5 Aug 2026 · Newswire · Court seeks contempt proceedings against Wimal, Udaya, Dilith & 3 others
• Ali Sabry / Criticised the arrest of / Suresh Sallay
  • In a statement after the arrest he said national security institutions must never be undermined for political gain, and that accountability must be pursued with fairness, restraint and respect for institutions. He said the Easter attacks deserved a professional, evidence-based inquiry.25 Feb 2026 · Newswire · Suresh Sallay’s arrest: Ali Sabry warns against politicising national security
• Suresh Sallay / Produced before the court to give evidence in, 16 October 2026 / Eknaligoda abduction trial, Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar
  • Reports that the former State Intelligence Service director was brought before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar by CID officers to give evidence about the abduction and enforced disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda. The article does not say what he said or that he is accused in the case.16 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Former SIS chief Suresh Sallay produced before High Court Trial-at-Bar