Sri Lanka says ex-spy chief orchestrated Easter bombings that killed 279

Sri Lanka's government has accused former intelligence chief Tuan Suresh Sallay of planning the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The claim marks a major turn in the investigation and sharpens focus on senior officials.

In Short

• Ananda Wijepala told parliament investigators had identified Sallay's central involvement
• The attacks were carried out by Islamist extremists in April 2019
• A total of 279 people were killed in the bombings

Sri Lanka's government has, for the first time, directly accused a former intelligence chief of orchestrating the devastating Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people and shocked the nation six years ago.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told parliament on Wednesday that investigations had found retired Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay played a central role in planning and directing the attacks carried out by Islamist extremists in April 2019.

The allegation marks a dramatic development in one of Sri Lanka's darkest chapters and could deepen scrutiny of senior officials who held powerful positions before and after the attacks.

GOVERNMENT MAKES EXPLOSIVE CLAIM

Addressing parliament, Wijepala said investigators had uncovered evidence linking Sallay directly to the plot.

"Investigations have revealed that Retired Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay conspired with and strategically directed Islamic extremists until they carried out the attacks," the minister said.

He further alleged that Sallay had personally identified one of the churches that was later targeted.

"Just three weeks prior to the attack, Sallay met Muslim men to obtain details of the location and the congregation," Wijepala added.

The coordinated bombings struck three luxury hotels in Colombo, two Catholic churches and an evangelical church outside the capital. The attacks killed 279 people and injured hundreds more. They remain the deadliest terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka's modern history.

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