Sri Lanka ex-spy chief accused over Easter bombings

Former Sri Lankan intelligence chief Suresh Sallay remains in custody before a court hearing scheduled for July 10 after the government accused him of directing the 2019 Easter bombings, which killed 279 people and wounded more than 500.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told parliament in June that Sallay was the “mastermind” and “strategically directed Islamic extremists” until the attacks were carried out. Sallay has not been charged with an offence and denies wrongdoing.

Sri Lankan authorities have said seven Sunni Muslim suicide bombers attacked three luxury hotels and three churches on April 21, 2019, in coordinated strikes inspired by the Islamic State group. The dead included 45 foreigners.

The case has since shifted from an official account centred on Islamist militants to government allegations of a wider conspiracy involving state intelligence figures. Investigators have told court the alleged plot was intended to create chaos and help position Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a leader able to crush militancy.

Britain's Channel 4 reported in 2023 that a whistleblower alleged the attacks were allowed to help Rajapaksa win the 2019 presidency. Rajapaksa administrations have acknowledged state funding of jihadists to gather intelligence on Tamil rebels during the civil war, but have said the militants double-crossed their handlers and carried out the Easter attacks.

Sallay was appointed head of the State Intelligence Service after Rajapaksa won the 2019 election. He was arrested in February under anti-terrorism laws after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reopened stalled investigations.