Court to rule on requests over Suresh Sallay’s health, detention conditions on June 10
COLOMBO – The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (10) fixed June 10 to deliver its ruling on competing applications concerning the physical and mental health of former State Intelligence Service chief retired Major General Suresh Sallay, who is being held under a Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) detention order in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The matter was taken up before Magistrate Pasan Amarasena after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Sallay’s legal team made separate submissions regarding his medical condition and detention circumstances.
Additional Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, appearing for the CID, requested the court to appoint an independent medical board through the Director General of Health Services to assess Sallay’s physical and psychological condition.
The request came after Sallay’s lawyers alleged that he was suffering from severe mental distress while in detention and required urgent medical intervention.
President’s Counsel Savintha Fernando, appearing for Sallay, told court that his client had developed serious psychological problems after being placed in detention and was currently experiencing severe stress and suicidal thoughts.
Counsel submitted a psychiatric assessment prepared by a team of five psychiatrists and requested that Sallay be transferred to a suitable medical facility where he could receive proper treatment.
Fernando argued that previous court orders directing medical examinations by specialists, including a psychiatrist, nutritionist and ophthalmologist, had not been fully implemented.
He further alleged that Sallay had been subjected to degrading treatment while in detention and said the psychiatric reports indicated symptoms consistent with severe psychological trauma.
According to the defence, Sallay had complained of inadequate detention conditions, including restrictions on movement and poor living conditions, and had reported being subjected to humiliating treatment during security procedures.
The defence urged the court to order an independent investigation into the allegations and to ensure that Sallay received treatment in an appropriate medical environment.
However, the CID strongly rejected the claims.
Additional Solicitor General Peiris argued that the allegations were an attempt to influence ongoing legal proceedings and described the claims regarding Sallay’s mental condition as exaggerated.
He told court that Sallay had been regularly examined by medical specialists and that all reports obtained by investigators had been submitted to the court.
Peiris said the former intelligence chief had received medical attention whenever necessary and maintained regular contact with family members in accordance with detention procedures.
He further contended that the timing of the defence application coincided with parallel legal proceedings before the Court of Appeal and questioned why concerns over Sallay’s mental condition had not been raised earlier.
The CID requested the court to appoint an independent medical panel to conduct a fresh assessment and submit a report directly to the court.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Amarasena reserved his order for June 10.
–ENCL
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