Justice Delayed, Not Denied: Former Intelligence Chief Arrested for Easter Sunday Massacre

In a long-awaited move that has sent shockwaves through the island nation, Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested former intelligence chief Major-General Suresh Sallay on Wednesday in connection with the devastating 2019 Easter bombings that claimed 279 innocent lives. The retired Major-General was taken into custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for questioning in Colombo, with authorities remaining tight-lipped about specific charges while confirming the arrest directly relates to the coordinated attacks that targeted three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday. The arrest marks the most significant breakthrough in years for victims’ families who have tirelessly sought justice since that horrific day when explosions ripped through worship services and hotel lobbies, transforming a holy celebration into a national nightmare that also left approximately 500 people wounded, most belonging to Sri Lanka’s minority Christian community.

Sallay, who occupied a senior armed forces position at the time of the attacks and was later appointed to head the State Intelligence Service by then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has previously faced explosive allegations, including a 2023 Channel 4 investigation suggesting he maintained links to the bombers and allegedly permitted the attacks to proceed to influence the 2019 presidential election. Now in custody without legal representation and unable to comment, Sallay’s arrest fulfills a key campaign promise by newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who has vowed to prosecute wrongdoers regardless of their political connections. As the CID prepares to present him in court and ongoing hearings continue against several other accused individuals, this arrest sends an unmistakable message that even those who once operated from the shadows of power may finally be held accountable for the darkest day in Sri Lanka’s turbulent history.