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 The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.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 22 October 2026 the court dismissed 13 petitions to intervene, and its decision on whether to grant leave to proceed is due on 27 November; 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
Coming court dates
- 27 Nov 2026
- Court of Appeal to decide whether to grant leave to proceed with his writ petition challenging his arrest and detention
Connections (12)
- Suresh Sallay / Became intelligence chief under / Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Suresh Sallay / Head of, 2019 to 2024 / State Intelligence Service
- Hanzeer Azad Maulana / Alleges he met the bombers in 2018 / Suresh SallayAllegation
- Criminal Investigation Department / Arrested, February 2026 / Suresh SallayAllegation
- Ananda Wijepala / Told parliament he directed the attackers / Suresh SallayAllegation
- Suresh Sallay / Dismissed after election of / Anura Kumara Dissanayake
- 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
- Reports that the Court of Appeal dismissed 13 intervention petitions on 22 October 2026, among them Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s request that Sallay’s writ petition be dismissed. Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya said the main petition concerned a criminal investigation that must proceed continuously and that the involvement of outside parties could obstruct it. The article adds that the court’s decision on whether to grant leave to proceed with the writ petition is due on 27 November.22 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Appeals Court rejects intervention petitions in Suresh Sallay’s detention case
- 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)
- Contempt referral over protest statements, 2026 / Concerns a protest against the arrest of / Suresh Sallay
- Ali Sabry / Criticised the arrest of / Suresh Sallay
- 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