Suresh Sallay ordered to be detained for another 90 days

28-Aug-2026

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Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Suresh Sallay, who is being held in detention over allegations of aiding and conspiring in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, has been ordered to be detained for a further 90 days to facilitate investigations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also the Minister of Defence, had taken into consideration the fact that Sallay had spent 78 of the 90 days of his previous detention in hospital.

The President had sought a report on the progress of investigations during the detention period previously authorised. According to the report submitted to him, Sallay had not remained in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for most of the period concerned and had instead been receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

As the authorities had been unable to effectively conduct the investigations and gather evidence during this period, a request had been made for a further detention order.

Sallay was arrested in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, and detention orders for 90 days had previously been issued against him on two occasions.

Meanwhile, Sallay’s wife, Manori Sallay, had written to the President requesting that her husband not be kept under a 90-day detention order and instead be remanded.

A writ petition filed by Sallay before the Court of Appeal challenging his continued detention is currently being heard.