News

Easter bombing money trail: Suspect’s Coimbatore home searched

Published

2 months ago

2026/07/31

Coimbatore, July 30 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out a search at the Coimbatore residence of a man accused in the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter Sunday serial bombings case as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and financial transactions linked to the conspiracy.

The search was conducted at the residence of Azharuddin, located in Anbu Nagar in Ukkadam, by a team of ED officials assisted by central security personnel and the local police. Officials began the operation in the morning and continued an extensive search for several hours.

Azharuddin was earlier arrested in connection with the investigation into the coordinated Easter Sunday suicide bombings in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, which killed more than 250 people and injured hundreds. He is currently lodged in Viyyur Central Prison in Kerala while legal proceedings in the case continue.

According to sources, ED officials examined a range of documents, electronic devices and financial records at the residence to trace suspected money trails and establish whether any proceeds of crime or financial transactions were linked to the wider conspiracy.

Investigators are also scrutinising bank records and other materials that could assist in the ongoing probe into the financial aspects of the case. Security was tightened in the locality during the search, with police restricting public movement around the premises while officials carried out the operation.

No seizure details or official findings had been disclosed at the time of filing this report, and the agency is expected to issue a formal statement after the completion of the search.

The latest operation has once again brought the spotlight on Ukkadam, a locality that has figured in several terror-related investigations over the years. The area witnessed heightened security after a lone-wolf terror attack on the eve of Deepavali in October 2022, when a youth was killed in a car explosion near the Sangameswarar Temple.

Investigators later concluded that the blast was a suicide attack carried out by extremist Jamesha Mubeen, who died in the explosion, prompting the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to launch an extensive probe into the case.

The ED action has created considerable attention in Ukkadam, with residents closely following developments as investigators continue to examine possible financial links connected to the Sri Lanka Easter bombings case.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

17 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

17 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

17 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.