Retired Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay, former head of the State Intelligence Service during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime, was arrested on February 25, 2026, by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and is now being held under the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). A Colombo-based online portal, The Leader, has obtained information through reliable sources revealing threats to his life, legal violations, and a detention process that defies all norms of justice.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake signed a 90-day detention order for Sallay, reportedly considering an extension to six months without any court oversight. Sources suggest this extreme action was based solely on a CID report, bypassing consultation with both the Defence Secretary and the Deputy Minister of Defence. Legal experts describe this as an arbitrary and unprecedented exercise of power, raising serious doubts about the motives behind the arrest.
Court filings reveal alarming threats against Sallay, including a suspected assassination attempt and fears of poisoning. His wife formally requested that he be fed from home to prevent harm, a request ignored by the CID until lawyers obtained a court order. Additional reports suggest he may be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment while in detention, intensifying concerns about his safety.
Sallay’s right to confidential legal counsel has been severely restricted. Despite formal requests, the CID obstructed access to his lawyers, forcing the courts to intervene and allow limited, supervised communication. Experts warn that interfering with lawyer-client privilege and restricting the right to remain silent is a blatant violation of Article 13 of the Sri Lankan Constitution, undermining the very foundation of legal protection.
Further scrutiny reveals procedural abuses: CID officers conducted a full search of Sallay’s home without a warrant and without the presence of female officers, raising serious legal and ethical concerns. Lawyers argue that the detention is based on insufficient evidence and represents a politically motivated abuse of the PTA rather than a lawful investigation.
This arrest exposes a dangerous trend in Sri Lanka’s justice system, where threats to life, denial of basic legal rights, and arbitrary detention converge in a process that undermines fundamental freedoms. The Leader reports that the case against Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay not only shocks the nation but raises urgent questions about state overreach and the safety of citizens under current anti-terrorism laws.
