The ASG emphasized that the bombings were deliberately executed to manipulate an election that was scheduled to take place six months later, explicitly identifying Sallay as the primary mastermind behind the tragedy.
The case, which centers on allegations of misdirecting the investigations into the Easter Sunday bombings, was called today before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amaraseena. The third suspect in the case, retired Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently being held under detention orders by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was escorted to the court premises under heavily fortified security arrangements.
Presenting a comprehensive 14-page progress report, ASG Dileepa Peiris marked it as a major turning point in the investigation. He revealed that a team from the CID, including its Director Shani Abeysekera, had traveled to France to record a detailed statement from Hanzeer Azad Maulana—who had previously made disclosures on Britain's Channel 4 network. The statement, recorded at the official residence of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to France, extensively detailed the plot and confirmed that Tuan Suresh Sallay functioned as the mastermind to fulfill a specific political agenda.
The prosecution further detailed how Sallay established contact with Easter Sunday suicide bomber Zahran Hashim’s network. According to the CID, a member of Zahran's faction, Seyni Moulavi, was jailed in the same cell as Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, alias "Pillayan", following a clash at Aliyar Junction. When Seyni Moulavi informed Pillayan that they had individuals prepared to die for their cause, Sallay reportedly caught wind of this information and manipulated the group for his objectives. This coordination allegedly led to a meeting in Puttalam between Sallay and six suicide bombers, including Zahran Hashim.
Furthermore, the ASG alleged that at the time of the bombings, Sallay contacted Azad Maulana, instructing him to go near the Taj Samudra Hotel to pick up an individual and secure his mobile phone. That individual was later identified as Abdul Latheef Jameel Mohamed, who eventually detonated a bomb in Dehiwala. The prosecution noted that police official Waruna Jayasundara had previously claimed Jameel was innocent, prompting a separate ongoing investigation into Jayasundara's conduct.
The court was also informed that following the attacks, politicians Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, and Namal Rajapaksa visited Pillayan at the Batticaloa prison, assuring him that he would be released within a week of Gotabaya Rajapaksa ascending to the presidency. Following the election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office, and Sallay—then serving as the Military Intelligence chief—was appointed as the head of the entire State Intelligence Service to restrict the flow of intelligence to other divisions. The ASG alleged that Rs. 250,000 from public funds via Military Intelligence was used to secure bail for Seyni Moulavi to suppress information regarding these extremist operations ahead of the elections.
The prosecution asserted that Pillayan’s faction and Military Intelligence acted jointly, not for national security, but to assassinate and avenge political opponents. Citing Azad Maulana’s statement, the ASG linked this collaborative network to the abduction of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, the assault on Keith Noyahr, the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge, and the attack on Upali Tennakoon. He revealed that Military Intelligence had been paying salaries to over 2,000 members of Pillayan’s group for political contracts, a practice the ASG has formally requested the Army Commander to halt, warning that the Army Commander himself could face legal action for concealing information if it continues. Sallay also reportedly arranged for Maulana's family to stay at a hotel in Ahungalla post-attacks, promising him a diplomatic posting, and the CID has secured all relevant hotel logbooks.
Objecting strongly to producing the suspect in court for future hearings, ASG Peiris pointed out that Sallay faces credible life threats, adding that the proceedings should not be converted into a personal stage for the suspect, especially given recent mysterious deaths in the country. He moved to vacate a previous magisterial order requiring Sallay’s physical presence. Commenting on Sallay's request to record a confidential statement before the Magistrate under Section 127 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the ASG described it as a calculated maneuver by an organized faction to disrupt, stall, and undermine the active investigation.
In response, President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando, appearing on behalf of Suresh Sallay, countered that the contents of Azad Maulana's statement in France cannot be accepted as substantive evidence until they are subjected to cross-examination in open court. He added that the credibility of the Channel 4 network is highly disputed, even within the United Kingdom. Addressing accusations made against the defense for obtaining copies of statements recorded under Section 127, the defense counsel questioned why the defense should be barred if the CID had access to them. He expressed regret over the prosecution's remarks regarding monitored legal access, calling it an infringement on attorney privileges. Counsel Fernando concluded that his client is being subjected to psychological torment and requested the court to begin recording Sallay's statement today, as instructed by his client.
Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, appearing for the aggrieved parties including His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, sided with the prosecution's view, stating that it was inappropriate to repeatedly produce the detained suspect physically before the court.
After reviewing the extensive submissions from all legal parties, Fort Magistrate Pasan Amaraseena announced that the court's ruling regarding the prosecution's request to stop producing Sallay physically in court will be delivered on July 01. The order regarding Sallay's request to record a statement under Section 127 of the Criminal Procedure Code will also be pronounced on the same date. Until then, the Magistrate ordered the CID to maintain the suspect under detention custody and produce him on the next scheduled court date.
