Ex-intelligence chief Sallay ‘directed’ 2019 Easter bombings, says Sri Lanka Minister
Sri Lanka's Public Security Minister has officially accused former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay of directing the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The allegations suggest the attacks were orchestrated to influence the 2019 presidential election, though Sallay denies all involvement.
Why it matters
This development marks a significant shift in the investigation of a major terrorist attack, potentially implicating high-level state officials in political manipulation and violence.
Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister told parliament on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) the nation’s ex-intelligence chief directed the 2019 Easter Sunday attack, in the first official statement linking him directly to the bombings that killed 279 people.
The article reports on official government statements and legal proceedings while noting the accused's denial, maintaining a standard journalistic distance.
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