by Our Correspondent in Colombo
Former Director-General of the State Intelligence Intelligence Maj. Gen. (Retired) Suresh Sallay was arrested this morning by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department while traveling to his place of work at a think tank, where he has been engaged in research and policy analysis following his retirement from active military service. The arrest took place during his regular commute, according to sources familiar with the incident.
More than two hours after the arrest, multiple CID teams—reportedly numbering around five—began coordinated searches of his residence, according to reliable sources. The purpose of the searches has not yet been officially disclosed.
The retired major general previously served as Director of Military Intelligence and later went on to head the State Intelligence Service, becoming the first Army officer to lead the country’s premier civilian intelligence body. His appointment at the time was widely regarded as a significant shift in the leadership structure of the intelligence apparatus, reflecting the increasing integration of military and civilian security functions in the post-war period.
Sources with knowledge of the latest developments suggest that the arrest may be linked to the continuing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, although this has not been officially confirmed by authorities. The former intelligence chief has previously denied in writing any allegations connecting him to matters under investigation, maintaining that he has no involvement in the events or any related wrongdoing. Those denials were submitted through legal channels during earlier stages of the inquiry.
As of now, no formal announcement has been issued outlining the legal basis for the arrest, and it remains unclear whether charges have been filed or whether he is being detained for questioning. There has also been no public confirmation as to whether an arrest warrant was obtained prior to the operation. Officials contacted for comment have so far declined to release details, stating only that inquiries are ongoing.
Legal sources point out that nearly a year ago investigators sought and obtained a court-approved travel ban preventing him from leaving the country. That restriction was imposed through judicial process as part of the broader investigation and required him to remain available to authorities while inquiries continued.
