A formal complaint submitted to the Inspector General of Police in Colombo has raised serious allegations concerning the treatment of Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay while in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department, with claims ranging from torture and degrading treatment to denial of medical care and restricted access to basic facilities.
The letter, dated 6 June 2026 and submitted by his wife, Manori Sallay, states that the allegations were relayed during a scheduled family visit on the same day. It requests an immediate independent criminal investigation into what it describes as abuse of authority and violations of custodial standards. The complaint also warns of an urgent deterioration in the detainee’s condition, citing a declared hunger strike and what is described as a “fast unto death.”
According to the document, Major General Sallay informed his family that he had commenced the fast in protest against what he characterized as prolonged mental distress and systemic unfairness during detention. The complaint states that he instructed his legal team to continue pursuing ongoing writ proceedings regardless of the outcome of his condition, underscoring what the letter describes as an escalating personal crisis within custody.
Central to the allegations are claims regarding detention conditions inside a CID facility. The complaint describes confinement in a small cell reportedly measuring approximately six feet by four feet, with no bed, chair, table, or basic furniture. It further alleges that meals are served on paper placed on the floor, with one instance cited in which rice and spoiled vegetables were provided. The letter claims that the detainee is compelled to eat in a prone position due to the absence of facilities.
The complaint also alleges restrictions on access to sanitation facilities after 10 p.m., which it says has resulted in physical distress and complications. It further states that prescribed medication and dietary requirements, reportedly directed by a Judicial Medical Officer, have not been consistently provided. These claims are presented in the letter as potential violations of medical and custodial obligations owed to persons in state custody.
The allegations extend to claims of physical and psychological mistreatment. The complaint describes a strip search conducted in the presence of other detainees, during which the detainee was allegedly required to remove all clothing. It further alleges inappropriate physical contact during the procedure. The letter states that the detention area is under continuous CCTV surveillance, and that footage exists which could verify the circumstances described.
The complaint additionally requests that investigators obtain statements from current and former cellmates who may have witnessed relevant events during the early period of detention. It argues that such testimony could be material in assessing the conditions and treatment inside the facility.
Further claims relate to surveillance practices and detention conditions, including allegations that family visits are conducted under heavy officer presence and that cell lighting remains on continuously. The letter presents these conditions as contributing to psychological strain during prolonged custody.
The document also reports visible deterioration in the detainee’s physical condition, as observed by family members during the 6 June visit. It describes symptoms including weakness, sunken eyes, dry lips, and a depressed emotional state. These observations are cited in support of the request for an urgent independent medical evaluation aligned with prior recommendations issued by medical authorities.
The complaint raises concerns about the length and nature of detention, stating that Major General Sallay has been held for more than one hundred days and has been questioned on only a limited number of occasions, with no recent interrogation activity reported in the weeks preceding the letter. It questions the proportionality of continued custody under these circumstances.
A significant portion of the complaint focuses on evidentiary preservation. It requests immediate safeguarding of CCTV footage from multiple locations within the detention system, including cells, corridors, interrogation areas, and visitation rooms. It also notes that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had reportedly sought access to such footage, but had not yet received it at the time of the complaint.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, an independent national institution responsible for investigating rights-related complaints, is also referenced in relation to an inquiry that allegedly proceeded without the attendance of CID representatives. The complaint characterizes this absence as a matter requiring further scrutiny within a broader investigation.
It concludes by urging the Inspector General of Police and the Sri Lanka Police to initiate an independent criminal inquiry, record statements from all relevant parties, secure documentary and video evidence, and ensure immediate medical attention for the detainee. It also references a prior complaint submitted in March 2026, stating that no formal response or investigative action had been received since that time.
