Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay has been transferred from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to a normal ward at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and will be discharged once his intravenous (IV) treatment is completed, the Fort Magistrate’s Court was informed today (22).
Deputy Director of the National Hospital Sampath Indika Kumara, appearing before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena following an earlier court order, said Sallay would be transitioned to oral medication after completing the IV treatment.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department, told court that Sallay had been transferred from the ICU of the cardiology unit to Ward 42 on 21 September. He remains under the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
A nine-member medical board also submitted a report on Sallay’s condition to court. According to the report, a specialised cardiac device valued at approximately Rs. 4 million had been implanted as part of his treatment, while he was also receiving dental treatment.
Peiris reiterated concerns over Sallay’s hospitalisation for more than 100 days. However, he noted that he was appearing on behalf of the hospital’s Deputy Director in his capacity as a public officer.
A medical committee is expected to review Sallay’s condition and make a further assessment by Monday (28).
When Magistrate Amarasena questioned how ordinary patients with similar medical conditions were treated, the Deputy Director said he had instructed hospital staff to provide Sallay with the same treatment afforded to other patients. He confirmed that Sallay was continuing to receive medication intravenously and would be discharged once that treatment was completed.
Meanwhile, Peiris told court that Sallay had still not provided the CID with passwords to his laptop and mobile phone, alleging that he was avoiding cooperating with the investigation.
Appearing for Sallay, President’s Counsel Shavendra Silva said his client, as an intelligence officer, changed his passwords daily and could not be expected to remember passwords used a week earlier.
Peiris countered that investigators had sought the passwords from the time of Sallay’s arrest, claiming that Sallay had initially said the laptop belonged to his daughter and had subsequently continued to withhold access credentials.
Sallay is currently detained in connection with investigations related to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The case was fixed for 21 October 2026.
