Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court orders medical report on former SIS chief Suresh Sallay

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered the Director of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka to submit a detailed report on the health status of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Suresh Sallay.

Magistrate Pasan Amarasena directed the hospital administration to specify whether Sallay requires continued inpatient care or if he can be safely discharged to face further investigation.

The directive comes after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stated that Sallay’s extended three-month hospital stay has repeatedly prevented investigators from recording crucial statements from him.

Background

The retired Major General was arrested by the CID in February under 90-day detention orders in connection with ongoing probes into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Investigators took him into custody on allegations of conspiracy and aiding and abetting the suicide bombings that killed nearly 270 people across churches and hotels.

The former intelligence head has consistently denied all accusations, while his legal team maintains that he remains fully cooperative with the judicial process despite facing prolonged detention.

Medical Condition

Sallay’s medical custody has drawn significant attention following multiple health developments throughout his detention.

Shortly after his initial arrest, he was briefly admitted to the National Hospital following a sudden illness before being discharged back to CID custody.

However, his physical state deteriorated sharply in June after he initiated a hunger strike, leading to his urgent transfer to the Cardiology Unit of the National Hospital.

While his legal defense argued that doctors had already deemed him fit to give statements and that a prior medical board was appointed, the court noted those previous reports were never received.

Consequently, the Magistrate ordered a fresh medical assessment before fixing the next hearing for September 15, while remanding two co-suspects until the same date.

The State Counsel informed the court that statements from several individuals linked to Sallay have already been recorded while further inquiries remain pending.