The wife of former State Intelligence Service Director Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake not to extend the detention order against her husband, citing his heart condition.
In a letter dated August 20, S.B.M.S.B. Sallay asked that her husband be transferred to remand custody under judicial supervision while continuing to receive specialised medical treatment, Daily Mirror reported.
Medical grounds cited
She said Sallay’s health deteriorated during his detention, particularly after he began a hunger strike. He was admitted to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka on June 7 and transferred to its Cardiology Unit on June 27.
According to the letter, Sallay later underwent a cardiac procedure in which an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator was fitted because of continuing heart problems. His wife said he requires close and specialised monitoring following the procedure, and warned that moving him from the National Hospital back into Criminal Investigation Department custody could place his life at serious risk.
She urged Dissanayake, who also holds the defence portfolio, to allow the existing detention order to lapse and to transfer Sallay to remand custody, so that both his detention and the ongoing investigation would proceed under judicial supervision.
She said neither Sallay nor his family intended to obstruct or interfere with the investigation, and that they were willing to cooperate fully with the authorities.
Context
Sallay has been held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. His detention has been the subject of repeated legal challenges, including a writ petition before the Court of Appeal and submissions by his counsel alleging political interference.
Separately, Ada Derana reported on Friday that the United Nations had received a public petition over the alleged mistreatment of Sallay in custody. That petition is a distinct matter from his wife’s letter to the President.
The Presidential Secretariat had not responded publicly to the letter at the time of writing, and no other verified newsroom had reported it.
