Salley's Lawyer Points to Ignored Intelligence Warnings Before Easter Attacks

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Court of Appeal today ordered that further consideration of the petition filed by former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Salley, seeking a writ to invalidate the detention order issued against him under the Prevention of Terrorism Act following his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department, be postponed until July 10.

The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.

At the hearing, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, appearing for petitioner Suresh Salley, made detailed submissions before court, explaining how the ideology of the ISIS terrorist organization had operated within Sri Lanka.

The President’s Counsel stated that information had revealed that 39 Sri Lankan nationals had travelled to Syria and joined the ISIS organization, adding that former Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had also made a statement in Parliament regarding this matter.

He further emphasized that investigations into the vandalism of Buddha statues in the Mawanella area had revealed the presence of an extremist international terrorist ideology behind the incidents. However, he stated that despite these findings, the then Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Shani Abeysekara, had failed to conduct proper investigations into the matter.

The President’s Counsel alleged that although there had been clear indications of ideological involvement by a foreign terrorist organization, and despite the availability of international support such as Interpol assistance for further inquiries, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at the time had acted negligently in handling the investigation.

He also pointed out that between April 20, 2016 and April 30, 2019, a total of 97 intelligence reports relating to the activities of extremist groups, including Zaharan Hashim and his associates, had been submitted to the Inspector General of Police.

He noted that this information was contained in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court by former State Intelligence Chief Nilantha Jayawardena.

In addition, the President’s Counsel stated that a list containing the names of 129 individuals alleged to have supported such extremist activities had also been submitted.

Despite these repeated warnings, the President’s Counsel told the court that the then Director of the Criminal Investigation Department and the then Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravi Seneviratne had failed to carry out appropriate investigations in response.

He further submitted that Indian intelligence agencies had, on April 4, 2019, alerted Sri Lankan authorities regarding a planned suicide bombing, knife attacks, and truck attacks targeting Christian churches, tourist hotels, and the Indian High Commission in Colombo by Zaharan Hashim and his followers. He noted that these intelligence inputs had even revealed the names of those expected to participate in the attacks.

However, he alleged that the respondents had failed to properly consider or act upon these warnings by initiating suitable investigations. The President’s Counsel also stated that no investigation or report of any commission had revealed any involvement of Suresh Salley in the Easter Sunday attacks.

He further pointed out that a committee appointed to inquire into the attacks, chaired by former High Court Judge  Jayaki de Alwis, had recommended that legal action be taken against former CID Director Shani Abeysekara and former Deputy Inspector General Ravi Seneviratne for failing to prevent the Easter attacks.

Following these submissions, the Court of Appeal ordered that further arguments in relation to the petition be postponed until July 10.