Easter Sunday Investigations Must Be Concluded Without Delay; Suresh Premachandran
14-Jun-2026.
Leader of the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and spokesperson for the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, Suresh Premachandran, has called for the Easter Sunday terror attack investigations to be completed expeditiously, warning against allowing them to be delayed or shelved as occurred under previous administrations.
He made these remarks when commenting on protests and controversy surrounding the arrest and ongoing investigation of former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay.
Premachandran stated that the Easter Sunday attacks, which targeted churches and luxury hotels in Colombo and Batticaloa, claimed the lives of more than 250 Sri Lankans and foreign nationals.
He pointed out that prior intelligence warnings regarding a possible attack had reportedly been communicated to Sri Lankan authorities by Indian intelligence agencies. He further referred to incidents preceding the attacks, including the theft of firearms from a police station in Batticaloa and a motorcycle bomb explosion in Kattankudy.
According to him, misleading narratives were circulated at the time suggesting that the incidents were linked to the LTTE, while insufficient effort was made to uncover the true perpetrators. He argued that these developments indicated the existence of a carefully orchestrated plan that ultimately culminated in the Easter Sunday attacks.
Premachandran noted that former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay is currently being investigated under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He alleged that certain political groups and individuals are campaigning for the investigation to be halted and for Sallay to be released.
He claimed that fears of further arrests among political figures have contributed to efforts aimed at undermining or obstructing the investigative process. Referring to restrictions reportedly imposed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s foreign travel, he suggested that such measures form part of the broader investigative framework.
Premachandran further alleged that attempts are being made to portray certain individuals as heroes in order to influence public opinion and divert attention from the investigation.
He also criticised what he described as selective concern regarding prison conditions. Referring to complaints allegedly made about prison facilities, he contrasted them with the long-term detention of Tamil detainees who had spent decades in custody without trial.
Emphasising the need for accountability, he stated that those responsible for the attacks must be identified and brought before the law. He urged the Government to ensure justice for the victims and their families and to complete the investigations without unnecessary delays.
“The investigations must be brought to a conclusion and the truth established. The Government should ensure that justice is delivered and should not allow these inquiries to be delayed or abandoned as happened under previous administrations,” he said.
