Sri Lanka’s former intelligence chief arrested over 2019 Easter attacks
Al Jazeera
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Sri Lanka’s former intelligence chief, Major-General Suresh Sallay, has been arrested on charges of conspiracy and aiding in the deadly Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. The attacks, which occurred in six coordinated suicide bombings at three churches and three luxury hotels during Easter services, injured over 500 individuals and left 45 foreign nationals dead. This incident dealt a severe blow to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, a critical economic pillar for the nation.
Sallay, who served as the head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was accused of orchestrating the attacks with the intention of influencing the 2019 presidential election in Rajapaksa’s favor. Following the bombings, Rajapaksa declared his candidacy and went on to win the election in a landslide. Sallay was later dismissed from his position after Anura Kumara Dissanayake became president in 2024, promising to hold those responsible for the attacks accountable.
Investigations have revealed that warnings from an Indian intelligence agency about an impending attack were ignored by Sri Lankan authorities. The country’s Supreme Court found former President Maithripala Sirisena and four other senior officials negligent in their failure to prevent the bombings, ordering them to pay significant compensation to victims’ families. Additionally, the United Nations has called for greater transparency by releasing previously withheld inquiry reports into the attacks.
This case highlights ongoing questions about accountability and governance in Sri Lanka. The arrest of Sallay and the subsequent court rulings underscore the need for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. The Easter Sunday bombings remain a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in national security and the consequences of political manipulation during times of crisis
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/25/2026