Former Intelligence Chief Suresh Sally Arrested After Alleged Intelligence Leak Links Him to Easter Sunday Plot
By Staff Reporter
Retired Major General Suresh Sally, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, was arrested yesterday morning (25) by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
Police confirmed that Sally was taken into custody at approximately 8.10 a.m. and is being detained under a 72-hour detention order for interrogation.
The arrest follows what investigators describe as a significant development: the alleged leakage of vital intelligence relating to Sally’s suspected connections to individuals linked to the Easter Sunday conspiracy. Sources close to the inquiry indicate that crucial information is believed to have surfaced through material associated with the mobile phone of terrorism analyst Rohan Gunaratna, prompting renewed scrutiny of Sally’s role.
While officials have not disclosed the precise nature of the leaked data, investigators are examining whether communications or intelligence exchanges may have exposed previously undisclosed links relevant to the broader conspiracy.
The Easter Sunday Carnage
On April 21, 2019, a coordinated series of suicide bombings devastated Sri Lanka. The attacks, carried out by extremists led by Zahran Hashim, targeted churches and luxury hotels across the island. A total of 273 people were killed and hundreds more injured in ten explosions at eight locations.
In the aftermath, multiple investigations were launched. A Parliamentary Select Committee and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry examined intelligence failures and systemic lapses. Based on findings from those inquiries, indictments were filed before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar against 25 defendants, including Naufer Maulavi, who were alleged to have maintained direct links with the extremist network responsible for the attacks. That trial is currently proceeding on a day-to-day basis.
However, the political dimension of the attacks has remained contentious.
Allegations of a “Political Hand”
Certain political actors have long alleged that the Easter Sunday attacks were not solely the product of extremist ideology, but that they may have been manipulated or exploited to engineer political change.
In 2023, a documentary broadcast by the UK’s Channel 4 revived controversy by suggesting the possible involvement of state-linked actors in facilitating conditions that enabled the attacks. The programme featured claims by Asad Maulana, a former media spokesperson for Pillayan who is currently seeking political asylum in Switzerland, alleging that a meeting had taken place between Major General Suresh Sally and members of the extremist group Thowheed Jamaat.
According to those allegations, the meeting allegedly discussed creating instability in the country to pave the way for the Rajapaksa family’s return to power. These claims were strongly denied at the time by those implicated, and no court has yet established criminal liability in relation to those specific accusations.
Nonetheless, the CID initiated confidential inquiries following the broadcast and has submitted periodic progress reports to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in recent months.
Arrest and Search Operations
Against this backdrop, Sally’s arrest marks one of the most consequential developments in the post-attack investigation.
Police stated that he was taken into custody on suspicion of aiding and abetting the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks and engaging in criminal conspiracy.
At the time of his arrest, Sally was reportedly on his way to work at the Pathfinder Foundation, a think tank operated by former minister Milinda Moragoda. He currently serves there in an executive capacity.
Following his detention, officers escorted him to CID headquarters, where statements were recorded. Simultaneously, more than 50 police officers conducted an extensive search of his residence, reportedly lasting several hours. Investigators seized computers, mobile phones, and various files believed to be relevant to the inquiry.
Law enforcement sources indicate that forensic examination of these devices will focus on communications records, data exchanges, and any material that may shed light on whether Sally had prior knowledge of the attacks or failed to notify appropriate authorities.
The Intelligence Leak
Central to the present escalation is the reported emergence of new intelligence — allegedly originating from data linked to Rohan Gunaratna’s phone.
Investigators are examining whether sensitive information, possibly including communications or references to meetings, surfaced in digital material that prompted the CID to reassess earlier conclusions.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the content of the material, but insiders suggest that the data was considered sufficiently credible and material to justify immediate custodial interrogation.
If substantiated, the evidence could potentially alter the trajectory of the investigation, shifting focus toward questions of foreknowledge, omission, or complicity at higher institutional levels.
Focus on Foreknowledge
A key line of inquiry now being pursued is whether Sally possessed advance knowledge of the impending attacks and failed to inform relevant stakeholders.
The Easter Sunday tragedy was marked by documented intelligence warnings that were allegedly not acted upon effectively. The question of who knew what — and when — has remained a matter of intense public scrutiny.
Investigators are now probing whether Sally’s position as head of the State Intelligence Service placed him in possession of actionable intelligence that was either inadequately communicated or deliberately withheld.
Such a finding, if proven, could carry grave legal consequences under Sri Lanka’s criminal law provisions relating to aiding, abetting, and conspiracy in terrorist acts.
Wider Net
Sources confirm that the CID’s investigation has expanded to include scrutiny of several other prominent figures suspected of having indirect or undisclosed links to the broader conspiracy.
While no additional arrests have been announced, officials indicate that inquiries are ongoing and that further action may follow depending on evidentiary developments.
Legal and Political Implications
Sally’s arrest has significant ramifications beyond the immediate criminal investigation. As a former head of state intelligence, his detention raises profound questions about institutional accountability, intelligence oversight, and the integrity of national security structures.
Legal analysts note that detention for 72 hours under a detention order allows investigators to conduct intensive interrogation prior to seeking judicial remand. Whether prosecutors will ultimately file formal charges will depend on the admissibility and sufficiency of evidence uncovered during this period.
Politically, the arrest is likely to intensify debate over the extent to which the Easter Sunday attacks were preventable — and whether any state actors bore responsibility beyond mere negligence.
A Defining Moment
Nearly seven years after the Easter Sunday bombings, Sri Lanka continues to grapple with unanswered questions.
The arrest of Major General Suresh Sally signals that the investigation has entered a new and potentially decisive phase. If the alleged intelligence leak proves substantive, it may reopen chapters previously thought closed.
For the families of the 273 victims, accountability remains the central demand. For the nation, the stakes involve not only justice for the past but confidence in the institutions tasked with safeguarding the future.
As the CID proceeds with interrogation and forensic examination, the coming days may determine whether this arrest represents a breakthrough in the long search for truth — or merely another episode in one of Sri Lanka’s most complex and politically charged investigations.