Medical examination by court order to ascertain if Salay was harassed - Protest platform dismantled

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court has appointed a five-member expert medical board to examine whether Mr. Suresh Sallay, the former Head of the State Intelligence Service, who was arrested, detained, and interrogated in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, was subjected to torture while in custody. Colombo Fort Magistrate Mr. Pasun Amarasekara issued this order, and this step was taken based on a motion filed by the suspect's lawyers and a request made by Additional Solicitor General Mr. Dileepa Peiris.

This medical board, consisting of three specialist psychiatrists and two specialist forensic medical officers, includes specialist doctors Mr. Thusitha Mendis, Ms. Chiththahari Abeynayake, Ms. Dasanthi Akmeemana, Ms. Dulaika Amarasinghe Vaas, and Mr. Vajira Dharmawardena. The relevant examination will be conducted at the South Colombo Teaching Hospital, and the Magistrate has ordered that its report be submitted to the court on the next hearing date.

Meanwhile, the organizers have decided to temporarily halt the Satyagraha (protest) that commenced on June 08th in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station, led by several opposition political parties, against the cruel and inhumane treatment of Mr. Suresh Sallay while in custody. This protest movement has been suspended, considering the current situation in the country and the judicial actions taken so far regarding this issue.

However, addressing Parliament today (10th), Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, revealed several serious facts regarding Mr. Suresh Sallay. The Minister stated that investigations have now clearly confirmed that he was conspiratorially involved in the Easter attack by directing Islamic extremists. The Minister also pointed out that three weeks before the attack, he had sent a group of Muslims to Catholic churches in the Negombo area to gather highly sensitive information, including the population gathering at those locations.

Mr. Wijepala also emphasized in Parliament that although the Army Intelligence Unit had been informed in advance about this attack by an intelligence informant, no action had been taken in that regard. Furthermore, the Minister recalled that Azad Maulana, who participated in an interview with Britain's 'Channel 4' channel, had also made statements regarding Mr. Suresh Sallay's involvement in the Easter attack. The Minister further stated, commenting under ministry announcements, that regardless of which party conducts Satyagraha or fasts, the investigations related to this incident would not be stopped under any circumstances.