Opposition political parties said on Sunday evening they would launch an indefinite protest opposite the Colombo Fort Railway Station condemning what they described as improper treatment of detained former State Intelligence Service Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay.
The announcement marks the first organised political mobilisation in support of Sallay since he was arrested on February 25 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks investigation. It came on the same day Sallay was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital’s Emergency Treatment Unit, hospital sources told Ada Derana, after what his family is calling a “fast unto death” hunger strike.
Sallay’s legal team separately wrote on Sunday to CID Director Shani Abeysekara requesting urgent medical attention and an independent medical evaluation. In their letter, the lawyers said Sallay had instructed them to meet him urgently with documentation required for the preparation of his last will, citing what they described as a serious deterioration in his health, and asked that he be transferred to a fully equipped hospital and examined by an independent medical board.
Police have rejected the allegations of mistreatment, saying Sallay has not been subjected to any assault or inhumane conduct in CID custody and that he is being held in accordance with standard procedures applicable to all suspects.
The mobilisation completes a 48-hour cascade of pressure from outside the security establishment. Former MP Udaya Gammanpila opened the public phase of the dispute at a Saturday media briefing claiming Sallay had refused food, water and medication; the family followed up on Sunday morning with appeals from Sallay’s wife and son outside the CID, including a written complaint to the Inspector General of Police calling for a criminal investigation into ten alleged offences in custody including torture and denial of medical care.
Sallay’s psychiatric custody is also separately before the Colombo Fort Magistrate, with judgment on a defence request for a medical board reserved to June 10. His Court of Appeal writ petition challenging the PTA detention remains pending.
No date has been published yet for the start of the Colombo Fort protest or for the parties signed on to the action. Ada Derana, which carried the announcement, did not name the participating parties or organisers.
