What is the connection of the deceased CD to the Easter attack investigations and Sale's testimony?

With the latest progress in the investigations into the Easter Sunday bombings, the testimony given by the late former Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne today (17), and the serious allegations leveled against Major General Suresh Salley, former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), have become a subject of intense discussion in both legal and political spheres.

Specifically, according to information presented to the court by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in 2026, a wealth of previously unknown sensitive information regarding the roles of these two high-ranking officials has come to light. Legal commentators point out that throughout this entire process, the former IGP acted not as an accused but as a key witness who provided statements for the investigations.

Following the brutal attacks in April 2019 due to intelligence failures, Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne, who served as acting IGP and later as permanent IGP, testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the Easter attacks. He extensively explained the failure to properly communicate intelligence received from foreign agencies among high-ranking police officials before the attack, and the breakdown in the security mechanism. However, his administrative decisions during his tenure, such as the transfer of key investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department like Mr. Shani Abeysekara, which allegedly slowed down investigations, also drew severe criticism.

According to the latest court reports, former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne and former CID Director Nishantha Zoysa have recorded special statements with the Criminal Investigation Department. Citing the contents of these statements, the CID has informed the court that Mr. Suresh Salley, who was then the head of the State Intelligence Service, attempted to alter certain directions of the Easter attack investigations and influence investigating officers through National Security Council meetings. It is revealed that there was no clear agreement or transparency between the regular police investigations and intelligence operations conducted under the former IGP, and that high-ranking layers of the security forces acted in such a way that even the IGP could not directly control certain sensitive intelligence information.

Due to this problematic communication between the State Intelligence Service and the Criminal Investigation Department, opposition politicians and the Catholic Church had previously leveled serious allegations that intelligence agencies attempted to divert investigations concerning intelligence members or certain suspects referred to by code names such as "Sonic Sonic." This situation became more heated due to a statement made by a person named Azad Maulana in a documentary broadcast by Britain's Channel 4 in 2023. Although it was alleged that a secret meeting took place between the attackers and Mr. Suresh Salley, Mr. Salley completely rejected these statements and also took legal action against the defamation against him.

However, amidst the extensive investigations conducted under the current National People's Power government, Major General Suresh Salley was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in February 2026 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Subsequently, in June 2026, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala made a special statement in Parliament, stating that 

Investigations have revealed evidence that Mr. Suresh Salley conspired with Islamic extremists and strategically guided them to carry out this attack. The Minister further stated that three weeks before the attack, he met with certain Muslim individuals and obtained information about the locations and gatherings at Catholic churches, and was directly involved in selecting targets.

Regarding these serious allegations, Mr. Suresh Salley's lawyers argue that this is a political vendetta and a result of a political upheaval, and they also point out that he was abroad at the time of the attack. While various protests and petitions are being filed regarding this arrest and detention, the victims' families and the Catholic Church have expressed their full support for the current investigation process. Although the Attorney General's Department and the CID have submitted statements, evidence, and investigation progress reports to the court, legal experts emphasize that since all these matters are merely allegations at the investigation stage, no one can be legally considered guilty until the court delivers a final verdict.