CID to Record Statements from Opposition MPs Over Sallay Allegations

The Attorney General's Department has given the CID the green light to record statements from a group of Opposition lawmakers who levelled serious accusations in Parliament against the former State Intelligence Service chief, Major General Suresh Sallay (Retd), in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks that killed over 250 people in 2019.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is among the 10 MPs from whom the CID will seek formal statements, according to reports. The move follows parliamentary statements made by these legislators alleging Major General Sallay's involvement in or knowledge of the devastating coordinated bombings that targeted churches and hotels across the country on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019.

The authorization by the Attorney General's Department marks an escalation in investigations into the controversial allegations that have been disputed by supporters of the former intelligence official. The gathering of formal statements from the Opposition MPs is expected to form part of the investigative record surrounding the allegations.

The 2019 Easter attacks prompted major questions about intelligence failures and whether senior officials had prior knowledge of the planned bombings. The inquiry into the attacks has remained contentious, with various state institutions undertaking separate investigations into the tragedy.