Sri Lanka's criminal investigators arrested former intelligence chief Major General Suresh Sallay on Wednesday in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The coordinated attacks killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners.
Police stated Sallay was taken into custody at dawn in Colombo, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation. He faces charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting the attacks.
The bombings targeted three hotels and two churches. The attacks were attributed to a homegrown jihadist group.
The Catholic church, a prominent advocate for justice for the victims, welcomed the arrest, emphasizing the need for truth and accountability.
Sallay, who served as State Intelligence Service chief in 2019, had previously denied accusations of involvement in organizing the bombings. His arrest occurs ahead of the seventh anniversary of the attacks.
Reports in 2023 suggested Sallay had links to the Islamist bombers and met them prior to the attack. Whistleblower accounts alleged he permitted the attack to proceed with the aim of influencing the presidential election.
While local jihadists were held responsible, Sallay was also accused of orchestrating the event. ISIS claimed responsibility, but investigators found no direct evidence of foreign links. Authorities faced criticism for failing to act on intelligence warnings.
US authorities charged three Sri Lankans in 2021 for supporting the attacks, in which five US nationals were killed. In a civil case, former president Maithripala Sirisena and four officials were fined over $1 million for failing to prevent the bombings.