Treatment of Suresh Sallay Continues, Court Told
24-Sep-2026.
Former Chief of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sallay, who is currently admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, continues to receive treatment through intravenous medication.
Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital Sampath Indika Kumar informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court that Sallay could be discharged from the hospital once the current treatment was completed.
The case concerning former State Intelligence Service chief Suresh Sallay, who was arrested and remanded under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on allegations of aiding and abetting and conspiring in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, was taken up before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court on 22 September 2026.
The Fort Magistrate's Court had on 15 September summoned the Director of the Colombo National Hospital to appear and explain why medical reports concerning Sallay's health condition had not been submitted to court.
Accordingly, Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital Sampath Indika Kumar appeared before court on 22 September.
Against the background of a request for representation by the Attorney General's Department on behalf of the hospital director, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris made submissions regarding Sallay's medical condition.
He told the Magistrate that there had been no change in his position that Sallay's continued stay at the Colombo National Hospital for more than 100 days was a conspiracy. However, he said the hospital director was a government official and that he had appeared in court on the director's behalf.
He submitted a medical report prepared by a nine-member team of doctors regarding Sallay's condition.
He further informed the court that a medical device valued at approximately Rs. 4 million had been fitted to Sallay in connection with a cardiac condition. Sallay was also receiving dental treatment.
Because of these treatments, he continued to remain in hospital. Sallay, who had previously been admitted to the intensive care unit of the cardiac treatment division, had been transferred to a general ward following the previous court proceedings. He was currently receiving treatment in Ward No. 42 under the protection of the Criminal Investigation Department, the court was told.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris further submitted that a medical panel was examining the situation and would provide a decision by Monday, 28 September.
He said there was no intention of subjecting Sallay to torture or discontinuing his treatment and that the Criminal Investigation Department was prepared to provide all necessary facilities.
He further said Sallay had so far not provided the Criminal Investigation Department with the passwords to his laptop and mobile phone and had continued to avoid the investigations. He added that they expected the cooperation of doctors at the National Hospital in the investigations.
At this point, the Magistrate directly questioned the Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital as to how ordinary patients suffering from similar medical conditions would be treated.
The Deputy Director replied that he had instructed that Sallay be given the same treatment provided to ordinary patients. He said Sallay was still receiving treatment through intravenous medication and could be discharged once the treatment was completed.
President's Counsel Savendra Perera, appearing for Suresh Sallay, said he expected to make submissions after examining the medical reports.
He said Sallay was an intelligence officer and changed his passwords every day. Therefore, he might not remember a password used a week earlier, and his current inability to recall the password was not an unusual circumstance.
In response, Dileepa Peiris told the Magistrate that when Sallay was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, officers had asked him for the password but he had refused to provide it.
He said Sallay had initially claimed that the laptop belonged to his daughter and had subsequently continued to refuse to provide the password.
After considering the evidence presented before the court, the Magistrate postponed further proceedings in the case until 21 October.
