Sri Lanka detains former intelligence chief over Easter bombings

Sri Lanka detains former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay for 90 days over his alleged role in the 2019 Easter bombings.

Sri Lanka’s President has cleared investigators to detain the country’s former intelligence chief for up to three months of questioning over his alleged role in the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people, police said on Saturday (February 28, 2026) .

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake signed an order under the tough Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to hold retired Army Major General Suresh Sallay for 90 days for questioning by detectives.

Criminal investigators arrested Mr. Sallay on Wednesday (February 25), making him the most high-profile official netted in the long-running investigation into the bombings, which injured about 500 people.

Forty-five foreigners were among those killed.

Nine suicide bombers carried out the coordinated attacks on April 21, 2019, targeting two Roman Catholic churches, an evangelical Protestant church and three luxury hotels.

“The President signed the DO (detention order) last night to keep Sallay in custody for 90 days after the initial three-day period he was held,” a police spokesman said.