Editor’s Note: The following column is written by Professor Rohan Gunaratna, a world-renowned expert on terrorism and national security. He has advised governments and international agencies, authored over 20 books on counterterrorism, and played a key role in shaping global strategies against extremist threats.
Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, Sri Lanka’s most respected national security professional, was arrested on February 25, 2026. He dedicated his entire life to protecting Sri Lanka, serving both as head of the State Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Military Intelligence. He was respected by the international intelligence community for his steadfast contributions to national, regional, and global security over three decades, serving five governments. He has an unblemished record that cannot be tarnished by anyone. For General Sallay, his first love was Sri Lanka and its people, not his family.
General Sallay is innocent and was not involved in the Easter Sunday attack staged on April 21, 2019. At the time of the attack, He was studying at the prestigious National Defence College in India after serving at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia. General Sallay’s arrest is politically motivated. Those responsible for his arrest should be investigated for the negligence that led to the Easter Sunday attack.
General Sallay’s arrest is being celebrated by two categories of people: first, the terrorists and extremists who carried out the Easter Sunday massacre; second, the political radicals who spread false narratives and conspiracy theories, falsely blaming the Sri Lankan security forces.
As the author of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Massacre – Lessons for the International Community, I have investigated the attack in minute detail and identified the perpetrators. My findings are consistent with the reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Australian Federal Police, New Scotland Yard, as well as INTERPOL and other authorities and agencies that investigated the attack.
Sri Lankan leaders should not play with national security. A bipartisan approach to securing the nation is essential. That is mature governance.
Yes, General Salley was a great officer in countering terrorism and he had assisted Malaysia enforcement in identified and countering South Asia terrorist groups operating in Malaysia.
The investigation and arrest should been carried out during the incident not now. The action by CID clearly showing something suspicious is happening in Sri Lanka.