The former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay has called off his hunger strike.
The former SIS Director arrived at the decision following repeated advice and representations made by his legal counsel.
Major General Suresh Sallay is currently being held in detention in connection with the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Last week, Major General Suresh Sallay was transferred to the Cardiology Unit of the Colombo National Hospital, according to his attorney.
Suresh Sallay was admitted to the Cardiology Unit following a sudden cardiac condition.
On June 7, former SIS Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.
He was initially admitted to the hospital’s Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) for medical care after falling ill while in CID custody.
The former SIS Director’s health condition deteriorated after he commenced a hunger strike alleging inhumane treatment and torture.
Despite his condition and treatment given to him at the National Hospital, Major General Suresh Sallay refused to end his hunger strike.
Major General Suresh Sallay later informed his personnel lawyer during a hospital visit that he is unwilling to return to the CID detention cell, describing the facility as “hell” and stating that death would be preferable.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) also launched a separate investigation into the complaint alleging that Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay was subjected to various forms of mistreatment while in custody.
HRCSL Commissioner Nimal G. Punchihewa noted that statements from officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were recorded as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The complaint was lodged with the HRCSL by relatives of Suresh Sallay, alleging that he was subjected to mistreatment while being held in CID custody.
According to reports, the Commission has conducted a special inspection of the detention cell where Sallay was being held. The inspection found that he had been detained in a standard CID cell, where several basic deficiencies were observed, including inadequate ventilation.
Moreover, the Global Sri Lankan Forum called on the President to urgently intervene on humanitarian grounds regarding the deteriorating health condition of former SIS Director Major General Suresh Sallay.
In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the organization requested that investigations involving Major General Suresh Sallay be expedited through transparent judicial proceedings rather than prolonged administrative detention.
The Forum also urged the President to pay immediate attention to Sallay’s continued detention and worsening health condition, calling for humanitarian intervention.
The organization noted that Sallay had dedicated decades of his life as a senior military officer to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and national security, and stressed that no individual should be subjected to extended detention without a formal indictment.
According to the letter, if any unfortunate incident were to occur to Major General Suresh Sallay while being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), responsibility would inevitably fall on the authorities that issued the detention order, including the President’s office.
The Global Sri Lankan Forum further called on the President to ensure Sallay receives uninterrupted access to the highest standard of medical care and that his safety is strictly guaranteed.
The former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay was arrested by the CID on February 25 over allegations linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
