Suresh Saleh's Wife Submits Written Appeal to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
03-Jun-2026.
The wife of former State Intelligence Service Director-General and former Director of Military Intelligence, Major General (Retd.) Suresh Saleh, who is currently being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has submitted a written appeal to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake alleging serious human rights violations and expressing concerns over her husband's safety while in custody.
In her letter to the President, she claimed that a few days after her husband was taken into detention, a group of officers allegedly entered his cell one evening and forcibly stripped him naked, handcuffed him, and subjected him to degrading and inhumane treatment in the presence of other officers and detainees.
She described the alleged incident as a grave violation of human rights and stated that her husband's physical and psychological condition has been deteriorating rapidly. According to her, his life is now at serious risk. She further asserted that if any harm befalls him, responsibility should rest with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), particularly its current Director Shani Abeysekara, who directly oversees his detention.
In her appeal, she urged the President to intervene immediately to secure her husband's release from detention or, at the very least, transfer him to remand custody under judicial supervision. She also called for an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment and requested that his fundamental rights, dignity and personal safety be protected in accordance with the law.
The appeal was submitted against the backdrop of Suresh Saleh's detention in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
In the letter, she stated that her husband had served Sri Lanka for more than three decades under successive governments with dedication and professional integrity. Throughout his distinguished career, she said, no allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing had ever been levelled against him and that his service record reflected a lifelong commitment to safeguarding the country's sovereignty and national security.
Referring to the detention order issued against him, she noted that the allegations claim that Saleh had prior knowledge of the Easter Sunday attacks and deliberately failed to disclose such information, thereby conspiring, aiding and abetting the commission of the attacks. The order also alleges that he knowingly concealed the identities of those responsible after the attacks.
However, she argued that no credible evidence has thus far been produced to substantiate these allegations before a court of law. As a result, she contended that the detention order appears to be legally unsound and fundamentally unjust.
She further alleged that certain individuals, including current CID Director Shani Abeysekara and some members of the Catholic clergy, were pursuing what she described as a personal vendetta against her husband.
According to the letter, the present CID Director has allegedly conducted a biased investigation through officers involved in the case with the intention of fabricating evidence against Saleh.
Expressing concern over the conditions of detention, she stated that despite being held for nearly 80 days, her husband had been questioned only on a limited number of occasions. She argued that this raises serious questions regarding the necessity and purpose of continuing his detention under such conditions.
The letter further alleges that Saleh is being confined in a small cell measuring approximately 6.5 feet by 4.4 feet and is permitted to use toilet facilities only between 6.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. He is reportedly allowed to leave the cell only for legal consultations, family visits or interrogation sessions.
She claimed that the detention facility is infested with rats and that some detainees had reportedly required medical treatment following rat bites. The fear of being bitten has allegedly prevented her husband from sleeping properly, resulting in prolonged sleep deprivation, which she described as a form of physical and psychological torture.
The letter also alleges that he has been denied access to reading materials related to his case and prohibited from taking notes.
One of the most serious allegations concerns an incident in which officers allegedly entered his cell shortly after his detention and subjected him to forced nudity, handcuffing and degrading treatment in front of other officers and detainees.
According to the letter, a formal complaint regarding the alleged incident was submitted to the Inspector General of Police on March 7, 2026. A request was also made to Senior Deputy Inspector General Asanga Karawita to ensure the preservation of CCTV footage that could serve as independent evidence. However, she claimed that no action has been taken on the complaint and that no response has been received from the relevant authorities.
The matter was reportedly brought before a Magistrate on March 11 and again on April 22, 2026. On April 22, the Magistrate ordered that Saleh be produced before a Judicial Medical Officer and a forensic psychiatrist. However, the letter alleges that CID officers failed to comply with the order for more than ten days.
The wife further claimed that due to monitoring of communications by CID officers, her husband was initially unable to disclose the full details of the alleged mistreatment to family members or legal representatives. It was only after a court order issued on March 26, 2026, guaranteeing confidential communication with his lawyers, that he was able to provide a detailed account of the alleged incidents.
She reiterated that her husband's health has deteriorated significantly as a result of these circumstances and maintained that his life remains in danger.
The letter also highlights what she described as a conflict of interest involving the current CID Director, noting that he has reportedly faced scrutiny in relation to investigations surrounding the Easter Sunday attacks. She argued that this raises serious concerns regarding impartiality, fairness and the administration of justice in the handling of her husband's case.
Concluding her appeal, she urged President Dissanayake to intervene without delay by securing Saleh's release from detention or transferring him to judicial remand custody, ordering an independent investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and ensuring the protection of his legal rights, dignity and personal safety.
