The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court is to deliver its decision on June 10 regarding a request to direct the Director General of Health Services to appoint a psychiatric medical board to examine former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay and submit a report.
The matter was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena following a motion filed by lawyers representing Sallay, who is currently being detained by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando, appearing for Sallay, told court that an order had previously been issued to obtain a medical report on his client after he was examined while in CID custody.
Fernando said the suspect had subsequently been referred to several medical specialists, including a psychiatrist, nutritionist and ophthalmologist.
He further submitted that recommendations made by the medical board in its report had not yet been implemented.
Additional Solicitor General Dilipa Peiris, appearing for the CID, told court that the suspect meets with his lawyers every Wednesday and is allowed to meet his wife and child. He also said that Sallay is provided an opportunity every Friday to speak by telephone with his wife, child and mother.
Peiris questioned why the suspect had not informed the family members if he had allegedly been subjected to ill-treatment.
President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, appearing on behalf of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith as well as victims and families affected by the Easter Sunday attacks, told court that the medical report submitted was not one prepared by a Judicial Medical Officer.
He argued that the conditions said to be affecting the suspect were similar to the mental state commonly experienced by individuals in custody. Arsecularatne further stated that such a condition could arise in light of the actions allegedly attributed to the suspect.
After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that the case be called again on June 10, when the court is expected to deliver its ruling on the request. (Newswire)
