Convener fears issuance of third detention order

A gathering titled 'Justice for Sallay' is scheduled to take place today at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) at 3 pm. The event aims to voice concerns over the prolonged detention of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, who is suspected in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The meeting's primary goal is to express worry over the potential issuance of a third Detention Order by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also the Minister of Defence.

Retired Flight Lieutenant Shantha Jayathilaka, the convener of the program, emphasized the significance of public participation in defending Sallay and the defense forces. About 40 Flag Officers and retired law enforcement officers, along with 100 decorated officers and men, are expected to join the program. Since Sallay's anticipated arrest in late February 2026, the Defence Minister has already issued two Detention Orders, with the second one set to expire on August 28.

Sallay, a Brigadier during his tenure as Director of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) from 2012 to 2016, played a crucial role in the intelligence agency. However, the Yahapalana government appointed Brig. Vijendra Gunathilake as the new DMI Director at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks. The suicide bombings claimed nearly 270 lives and injured over 500, including the pregnant wife of a suicide bomber, her two young children, and three policemen.

Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, as an intervenient petitioner in the Court of Appeal case filed by Sallay, claimed that Sallay served as DMI Director from 2012 until the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) disbanded in April 2019. Yasas Dharmadasa, from the Global Sri Lanka Forum, pointed out that allegations of Sallay's involvement in the Easter Sunday bombings were based on the incorrect assumption that he held the top DMI post during the attacks.

Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekera also faced controversy when he alleged that a small group of DMI personnel were involved in the terror project, leading to calls from the Catholic Church for President Dissanayake to remove Jayasekera from his ministerial position pending the conclusion of the investigation.