Prosecution alleges political, intelligence links to Easter Sunday attacks in Court submissions

The ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks took a dramatic turn yesterday after the prosecution made a series of allegations before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court linking former political leaders, military intelligence officials, and the alleged conspiracy surrounding the attacks.

Appearing before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dileepa Peiris alleged that following the Easter Sunday attacks, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, and Namal Rajapaksa had visited Batticaloa Prison to meet former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan.

The ASG alleged that Pillayan had been informed during the meeting that he would be released within a week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa became President.

The prosecution further alleged that legal coordination relating to the matter had been handled by former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay, who was identified by the complainant as the principal figure behind the alleged conspiracy.

Addressing Court, the ASG claimed that intelligence relating to the attacks had been suppressed after Sallay was appointed head of the SIS in 2019. He further alleged that Sallay and Pillayan had been involved in several politically motivated assassinations and that investigations were continuing into all connected political actors.

The Court was also informed that witness Azad Maulana, who made revelations regarding the attacks to Channel 4, had allegedly been detained in the same prison cell as Sallay at Batticaloa Prison.

The prosecution stated that a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shani Abeysekara had travelled to France and recorded a statement from Maulana at the official residence of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to France.

According to the prosecution, Maulana had provided extensive details regarding alleged links between Sallay, Pillayan, and extremist leader Zahran Hashim and his network.

The ASG further alleged that military intelligence funds had been used to arrange legal assistance and bail for certain extremist suspects and to financially support members of the suicide bombing network until the attacks were carried out.

The Court was also told of an alleged telephone call made by Sallay to Maulana on 21 April 2019 instructing him to transport a man carrying a bag near the Taj Samudra. The prosecution alleged that the individual was later identified as Jameel, who subsequently detonated explosives at Tropical Inn in Dehiwala after failing to carry out an attack at the hotel.

The prosecution maintained that the attacks had been politically motivated and intended to influence the 2019 Presidential Election.

During proceedings, the ASG objected to submissions made on behalf of Sallay alleging that the investigation lacked independence and transparency. President’s Counsel appearing for Sallay clarified that the defence had not requested the removal of SSP Abeysekara from the investigation entirely, but had sought his transfer from supervisory responsibilities.

The Magistrate also inquired whether either side objected to the present Court continuing to hear the matter, to which both the prosecution and defence responded in the negative.

The prosecution subsequently submitted a 14-page further report detailing progress of investigations, stating that the present inquiry stemmed from complaints lodged in October 2024 by Reverend Cyril Gamini Fernando and Reverend Vernon Silva following statements made by Azad Maulana to Channel 4 in September 2023.

Appearing for the first suspect, Attorney-at-Law Swasthika Aravindan submitted that no evidence had been uncovered against her client under the Prevention of Terrorism Act despite eight months in remand custody, and sought his release.

At the conclusion of proceedings, Magistrate Amarasena ordered that the prosecution’s request not to produce the third suspect Sallay in open court, along with requests relating to lawyer access under CID supervision and related defence submissions, be postponed for consideration until 1 July.