Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala disclosed in Parliament today (10) that sufficient evidence has been collected to prove that former State Intelligence Service Chief, retired Major General Suresh Sallay, had actively conspired in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Addressing the Parliament, Minister Wijepala said that Sallay had prior knowledge of the planned terrorist attacks as well as related violent extremist activities.
“Three-weeks prior to the attacks, Sallay had used four Muslim individuals to collect key information, including the number of people attending mass at a church in Negombo. The main individual among the four has been identified by witnesses with the CID as an ISIS extremist and remains reported missing after the Easter attacks. There is evidence suggesting that Sallay had met the informant who had tipped off the Army intelligence service of the attacks, at a hotel in Colombo,” he said.
Minister Wijepala further said that Sallay had taken steps to prevent the disclosure of critical information that could have exposed shocking details surrounding the attacks.
He went on to note that recent reports claiming of inhumane treatment were false, revealing that Sallay had been provided with all necessary arrangements afforded to a primary suspect, including consultations with his lawyers.
“No complaints were made to the magistrate on inhumane treatment when the magistrate visited Sallay to consider his health and well being. Sallay has also not made any complaints to other authorities related to inhumane treatment,” he said.
The Public Security Minister also disclosed that Sallay has so far refused to provide investigators with the passwords to his laptop and mobile phone, acting in a manner to hinder investigations.
Minister Wijepala added that the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks will not be halted by any protests or Satyagraha. (Newswire)