Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris today (15) informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that investigations had uncovered information suggesting that Military Intelligence had prior knowledge of the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks but deliberately withheld vital intelligence, allegedly allowing the attacks to take place.

The allegations were made during the latest hearing of the case against three suspects, including former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay, in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Shani Abeysekara, who heads the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), appeared for the prosecution along with Additional Solicitor General Peiris.

Peiris also raised concerns over the continued failure to produce medical reports relating to Suresh Sallay, who has been receiving medical treatment since June 7.

“Today marks 100 days since the third suspect, Suresh Sallay, has been receiving medical leave,” Peiris told court, alleging that the medical leave was being used to obstruct investigations and protect those he described as Sallay’s “employers.”

The prosecution questioned why the Director of the Colombo National Hospital had not yet submitted reports concerning Sallay’s current medical condition, despite an earlier court order.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena confirmed that the reports had not yet been received.

President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando, appearing for Major General Suresh Sallay, also asked whether the court had received the findings of a five-member panel of specialist doctors appointed to assess his client’s mental condition and determine whether he had been subjected to torture.

The Magistrate said the panel had requested additional information from the Director of the Colombo National Hospital and that, although the court had subsequently issued the necessary orders, the requested reports had still not been submitted.

Peiris then alleged that there was a “medical conspiracy” surrounding Sallay’s continued stay at the National Hospital, questioning the extent of treatment being provided to him.

He asked the court to order the hospital director to appear with a detailed report on Suresh Sallay’s medical condition.

Allegations concerning Military Intelligence

During his submissions, the Additional Solicitor General made several serious allegations concerning the conduct of Military Intelligence in the period leading up to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

According to Peiris, investigators had recorded a statement from an intelligence informant, identified as Kambiyan Thavalan, who had allegedly been providing information to the Sri Lanka Army about extremist groups since 2014.

Peiris told court that the informant had provided specific intelligence about the planned attacks in the days immediately preceding Easter Sunday, including information on the day before the attacks.

However, he alleged that the relevant Military Intelligence unit failed to communicate the information to other security agencies.

The prosecution further alleged that an organized group within Military Intelligence had sought to protect Zahran Hashim and conceal those allegedly responsible for the attacks.

Peiris also referred to the 2018 killing of two police officers in Vavunathivu, claiming that the investigation had initially been directed toward former LTTE members.

He said Colonel Maddumage, who was then in charge of the Giritale intelligence camp, had subsequently provided written information identifying Zahran as being responsible.

Peiris alleged that those who concealed such information were connected to Suresh Sallay.

Other individuals named in court

The prosecution also referred to several other individuals during the hearing, including former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and a Mannar businessman identified as Alawdeen.

Peiris alleged that Bathiudeen had provided political protection to individuals connected to the attacks.

He also alleged that Alawdeen, described as the father-in-law of Shangri-La bomber Inshaf Ahmed, had provided speedboats allegedly used by Zahran and his associates to travel to India before the attacks.

The prosecution further alleged that Alawdeen’s daughter, who was married to Inshaf Ahmed, had been released from detention during the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and claimed that Alawdeen had supported Rajapaksa’s election campaign.

Peiris said investigators would record statements from political figures, including the current Opposition Leader and other MPs who had previously raised related allegations in parliament.

Intelligence warnings allegedly ignored

The court also heard allegations concerning former State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena.

Peiris said Police Inspector Ranjan Senarath Bandara, who had been attached to the intelligence service’s extremist division, had submitted a list containing the names of 94 suspected extremists to Jayawardena before the Easter attacks.

The list allegedly included the names of Zahran and his brother Rilwan.

According to the prosecution, Jayawardena had instructed the officer to investigate further. Peiris alleged that the officer subsequently met Zahran’s brothers but did not arrest them.

“If they had been arrested at that time, the Easter attacks would not have occurred,” Peiris told court, arguing that this indicated that elements within the State Intelligence Service had also been aware of information concerning the attacks but failed to act on it.

Sainthamaruthu deaths under investigation

The prosecution also raised questions about the deaths of 16 individuals linked to the attackers in Sainthamaruthu on April 27, shortly after the Easter attacks.

Peiris said investigators were examining whether all 16 individuals had necessarily died by suicide and whether some could have been taken into custody.

He alleged that, because the area was under Army control at the time, investigators were examining whether members of the military had deliberately prevented the surviving individuals from being arrested in order to stop further information about the attacks from emerging.

Defence rejects prosecution allegations

President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando rejected the manner in which the prosecution had presented its allegations.

He argued that statements contained in B reports were not themselves evidence and said he would not attempt to respond to every allegation at this stage.

Fernando also challenged the prosecution's comments about Sallay’s medical condition, emphasizing that he was a lawyer rather than a medical professional.

He asked the court to follow proper legal procedures and obtain the relevant medical reports concerning his client.

Hospital director ordered to appear

After considering the submissions, Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered the Director of the Colombo National Hospital to appear before court on September 22 and explain why the requested medical reports concerning Suresh Sallay had not been submitted.

The Director was also ordered to produce the relevant medical reports.

The case will next be heard on September 22.