Post by : Shakul

Sri Lanka’s former State Intelligence Services (SIS) Chief, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, has been arrested in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. He was taken into custody in Peliyagoda by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The coordinated bombings on April 21, 2019, targeted three churches and three luxury hotels in Colombo, Negombo, Kochchikede, and Batticaloa. A total of 279 people were killed, including 11 Indian nationals, and more than 500 were injured. The attacks severely impacted Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and national security environment.

Sallay, who became SIS chief in 2019 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed the presidency, has previously denied allegations linking him to the attacks. However, media investigations and whistleblower claims suggested possible connections between him and the attackers.

In 2023, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court held former President Maithripala Sirisena and several senior officials responsible for failing to prevent the attacks and ordered compensation payments to victims’ families. The United Nations has also called for greater transparency regarding previous investigations.

The arrest of Sallay marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into one of the deadliest terror incidents in Sri Lanka’s history.

#Global News #Asia News #Global