President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a third detention order for retired Major General Suresh Sally, extending his custody by 90 days as investigations continue into suspected links to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Retired Major General Suresh Sally remains in custody following a new detention order issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Defence Minister. The fresh order extends Sally's detention for an additional 90 days, marking the third such order since his arrest in late February 2026.
The Criminal Investigation Department arrested Sally, who previously served as Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence from 2012 to 2016 and as Director of the State Intelligence Service from 2019 to 2024, on suspicion of involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks carried out by the National Thowheed Jamaath. Sally has been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and he has challenged both his arrest and detention in legal proceedings.
According to reports, Sally had already been held under the PTA for six months prior to this latest order. His legal team and family members have contested the detention, with his mother and wife recently petitioning President Dissanayake to cease further extensions of his custody. The case remains active within investigative authorities as officials pursue leads related to the Easter Sunday bombings.
