The arrest of Sri Lanka’s former State Intelligence Services (SIS) chief marks a significant development in the investigation of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that took the lives of 279 people. The attacks targeted three churches and three hotels, leaving over 500 individuals injured in their wake.
At the time of the bombings, Maj Gen Suresh Sallay was a brigadier tasked with preventing such terror acts. He is now under suspicion for allegedly aiding the perpetrators of Sri Lanka’s deadliest terror incident.
Despite not being a Muslim, allegations suggest that Sallay attended meetings with an extremist group linked to the attacks. These meetings reportedly included discussions on creating instability before national elections, potentially benefiting the political ambitions of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa declared his presidential candidacy shortly after the bombings, promising to eliminate extremism. Following his electoral victory, Sallay was elevated to the head of the SIS.
In a report by The Telegraph, senior deputy inspector general of police Sajeewa Medawatte indicated that the allegations would undergo a “lengthy investigation.”
Father Cyril Gamini Fernando, a spokesman for the Catholic Church, emphasized the need for truth and justice, telling the AFP news agency, “What we need is the truth behind the Easter attacks.” He further added, “We want to see justice for all the victims.”
The bombings claimed the lives of 45 foreign nationals, including Anita Nicholson, a British lawyer, and her two children, Alexander and Annabel. Other British victims included IT director Lorraine Campbell, retired firefighter Bill Harrop, and his wife Dr. Sally Bradley.
The 2019 incident stands as the most lethal Islamist terror attack in Sri Lanka. While the country has experienced numerous terror acts, they have predominantly been attributed to the “Tamil Tigers,” a group that was defeated militarily in 2009 after a protracted civil war.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
