Sri Lanka's ex-intel head arrested in connection with 2019 Easter attack probe

Arrest Shakes Up Long-Stalled Easter Attack Probe

Sri Lankan police moved swiftly at dawn on Wednesday, detaining retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former head of the State Intelligence Service, in a quiet suburb of Colombo.

The arrest stems from allegations that Sallay conspired with and aided those behind the devastating Easter Sunday bombings of 2019, which claimed 279 lives, including 45 foreign nationals, and left over 500 people injured.

This development comes years after the coordinated suicide attacks targeted three churches and three luxury hotels during Easter celebrations, shattering the nation's sense of security and hammering its vital tourism industry.

Sallay, who took the helm of the intelligence agency shortly after Gotabaya Rajapaksa became president in late 2019, has consistently denied any involvement in the plot.

His detention signals a renewed push by criminal investigators to unravel what many see as layers of negligence and possible complicity at the highest levels of government.

Background of the 2019 Tragedy and Official Failures

The bombings on April 21, 2019, unfolded in near-simultaneous blasts that ripped through packed churches and high-end hotels, turning a holy day into one of horror.

Sri Lanka, still recovering from decades of civil war that killed over 100,000, faced its deadliest civilian attack in modern history.

Intelligence warnings had circulated beforehand, but they were ignored, leading to widespread outrage.

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court later ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena and several top officials bore responsibility for failing to act on those alerts, ordering them to pay fines totaling more than $1 million to victims' families.

The court described their lapses as gross negligence, a finding that paved the way for further accountability measures.

In the years since, probes have pointed fingers at local extremist groups, but questions linger about why intelligence wasn't acted upon and whether political motives played a role.

Political Shifts and Mounting Pressure for Justice

Sallay's appointment came amid a turbulent political landscape, and he was ousted after Anura Kumara Dissanayake's victory in the 2024 presidential election.

The new leader campaigned on promises to pursue those responsible for the Easter attacks, fueling expectations for prosecutions.

"He was taken into custody for conspiracy and for providing assistance to the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks. He has maintained contact with individuals connected to the assaults, even recently," an investigating officer told reporters.

Reports from international outlets have highlighted whistleblower claims suggesting Sallay might have allowed the attacks to influence elections, though he rejects these accusations outright.

The U.S. has also indicted three Sri Lankans linked to the bombings, which killed five American citizens, adding global scrutiny.

The United Nations has called for the release of withheld investigation reports, underscoring demands for transparency in this sensitive case.

As the seventh anniversary approaches, victims' families and the public watch closely, hoping this arrest delivers long-overdue closure.

This arrest of former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay represents a critical juncture in the probe into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 and exposed deep security failures under prior leadership. With Supreme Court rulings holding officials accountable and new political commitments to justice, Sri Lanka edges toward resolving one of its darkest chapters, amid ongoing calls for full disclosure.