Connect with us

News

Alleged secret meeting with NTJ: Maj. Gen. Sallay says he was not in Sri Lanka for whole of 2018

Published

on

Maj. Gen. Sally

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay, in his present capacity as Director, State Intelligence has told Channel 4 Television that he was not in Sri Lanka for the whole of 2018 as he was in Malaysia as Minister Counsellor of the government of Sri Lanka.

Therefore, the accusation that he met several members of the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) including Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Zahran in Karadipuval, Puttalam in Feb. 2018 was baseless, he has said.

The intelligence officer has asked the British television station to verify his claim with the Malaysian authorities. Career diplomat Pakeer Mohideen Amza was the Ambassador in Malaysia at the time (16.01.2016 to 28.06.2019).

Maj. Gen. Sallay has also told Channel 4 that on April 21, 2019, the day of the Easter Sunday blast, he was in India, where he was accommodated at the National Defence College (NDC). That could be verified with the Indian authorities,

Maj. Gen. has said, strongly denying Channel 4’s claim that he contacted one of Pilleyan’s cadre’s over the phone and directed him to pick a person outside Hotel Taj Samudra.

According to Sallay, during his entire assignment in Malaysia from Dec 2016 to Dec 2018, he had been to Colombo only once for one week in Dec 2017 to assist in an official inquiry. Having returned to Colombo, Sallay had left for NDC in late Dec 2018 and returned only after the conclusion of the course in November 2019.Maj. Gen. Sallay has said so in response to questions posed by Ben de Pear, founder, Basement Films tasked with producing a film for Channel 4 on the Easter Sunday bombings. The producer has offered Sally an opportunity to address the issues in terms of Broadcasting Code while inquiring into fresh evidence regarding the officer’s alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday conspiracy.

The producer sought Sallay’s response in August this year in the wake of political upheaval following the ouster of Gotabaya Rajapaksa elected at the November 2019 presidential election.

At the time, the yahapalana government granted a diplomatic appointment to Sally, he had been head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).The Basement Films has posed several questions to the Maj. Gen. on the basis of accusations made by Hanzeer Azad Maulana, one-time close associate of State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan aka Pilleyan, former LTTE member.

In response to the film producer’s query regarding Sally’s secret meeting with six NTJ cadres who blasted themselves a year later, the officer has questioned the very basis of the so called new evidence as he was not even in the country during the period the clandestine meeting is alleged to have taken place.

Activities of extremist elements and the growing threat posed by them was first raised in parliament by the then Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC. The minister earned the wrath of a section of the government parliamentary group for demanding tangible measures to neutralize the threat. Dr. Rajapakshe’s concerns were simply dismissed by the then Yahapalana government.



Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

on

By

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district

Continue Reading

News

Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order

Published

on

Suresh Sallay

Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.

“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.

“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.

“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.

“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”

“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.

As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.

As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.

I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.

Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.

Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.

Continue Reading

News

CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme

Published

on

Yoshitha

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy, has now been summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the United Kingdom outside established procedures.

The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.

According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.

The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.

Continue Reading

Trending