A dramatic arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act has reignited national debate over accountability, intelligence failures, and the long quest to uncover the true political masterminds behind the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The arrest of former State Intelligence Chief Suresh Salai has marked a turning point in the long delayed Easter Sunday investigations. Catholic Church Media Spokesperson Father Cyril Gamini Fernando says the formal recommencement of stalled probes under the new government has brought investigators closer than ever to identifying the real masterminds behind the coordinated terror attacks.
According to Father Cyril, the Criminal Investigation Department arrested Salai under the Prevention of Terrorism Act based on sufficient evidence. He is to be detained and questioned for seventy two hours as part of ongoing counterterrorism investigations.
The priest stressed that investigations had been effectively frozen during the administrations of former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe. He noted that the latest arrest followed sixteen months of inquiry conducted with the consent of the Attorney General after the present government assumed office. He described the development as a significant step toward long awaited justice for victims.
Father Cyril warned that certain parties are deeply anxious about the final outcome of these investigations, fearing exposure of political interests and hidden actors. He suggested that the real architects and political hands behind the Easter Sunday attacks are now very close to being identified.
• Diversion Tactics: The priest alleged that attempts were made to divert early investigations by attributing responsibility to the LTTE. He emphasized that the core objective is to determine who allowed the attack to proceed despite prior intelligence warnings and what political motives were involved.
• National Security Risk: He cautioned that if individuals who exploited terror for political gain remain unaccountable, it poses an ongoing threat to Sri Lanka’s national security and democratic stability.
• Equality Before Law: Responding to criticism labeling Salai a war hero, Father Cyril insisted that the rule of law must apply equally, and past service cannot shield anyone from criminal liability.
He concluded that identifying those who sabotaged or misdirected post attack investigations is essential for truth, accountability, and reconciliation.
