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Former Intelligence Chief Detained Amid Easter Bombing Probe

2/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On February 28, 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake authorized detaining former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay for 90 days in connection with the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people.
Sallay was arrested on February 25, becoming the highest-ranking official implicated in the ongoing investigation.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act allows extended detention without charge.
Opposition parties criticized the arrest as a political maneuver.

History

Historical Context

Enacted in 1979 under President J. R. Jayewardene, Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) grants authorities extensive powers to detain individuals without charge, leading to over 30,000 arrests in its early years. The recent detention of former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, linked to the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279, underscores ongoing concerns about civil liberties and political exploitation of the law.

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Story summary

On February 28, 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake authorized detaining former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay for 90 days in connection with the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people.
Sallay was arrested on February 25, becoming the highest-ranking official implicated in the ongoing investigation.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act allows extended detention without charge.
Opposition parties criticized the arrest as a political maneuver.

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