The Fort Justice of the Peace’s Courtroom immediately (1) ordered former Director of the State Intelligence Service, retired Main Common Suresh Sallay, to supply the Prison Investigation Division (CID) with the passwords to his cell phone and laptop computer as a part of the investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist assaults.
In the meantime, Fort Justice of the Peace Pasan Amarasena rejected a request by Sallay’s legal professionals to take away the investigation from the present Director of the CID, Deputy Inspector Common Shani Abeysekara.
The case filed towards retired Main Common Suresh Sallay, the previous Director of the State Intelligence Service, and one other suspect in reference to the Easter Sunday terrorist assaults was taken up earlier than the Fort Justice of the Peace’s Courtroom.
On the listening to, Justice of the Peace Pasan Amarasena delivered rulings on a number of functions beforehand made by each the prosecution and the defence.
Referring to the defence request to switch the investigation to a different unit, the Justice of the Peace said:
“The suspect’s authorized representatives requested that the investigation regarding their consumer be faraway from the present Director of the Prison Investigation Division and assigned to a different investigative physique.
The suspect has been positioned in CID custody beneath detention orders issued by the Minister of Defence in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
This courtroom has no authority to query such a detention order besides via a writ software or a basic rights petition.
Moreover, it’s obvious to the courtroom that an especially advanced investigation is being performed effectively by the investigating officers beneath the supervision of the Lawyer Common. On 24 March 2026, the suspect himself knowledgeable the earlier Justice of the Peace that ‘the investigation groups are treating me properly, and that may be a aid to me’.
Accordingly, the suspect’s personal assertion demonstrates that there isn’t a foundation at this stage to take away the investigation from the present Director of the CID.”
The Justice of the Peace additionally rejected an software in search of permission for Sallay to learn books and authorized paperwork provided from his residence and to make written notes whereas in detention.
He noticed:
“The CID has submitted that the suspect had engaged in a life-threatening starvation strike with the intention of inflicting hurt to himself and, due to this fact, shouldn’t be supplied with gadgets equivalent to pens or pencils that might probably be used for self-harm.
As well as, as he’s being held in reference to a extremely delicate investigation, there’s a want to stop any covert alternate of data with exterior events that might hinder the investigation.
Investigating officers have knowledgeable the courtroom that appropriate studying materials, advisable in accordance with the suspect’s psychological situation, could be offered via the CID library. Accordingly, this request can be refused.”
The courtroom additional rejected a request by the suspect to make an announcement earlier than the Justice of the Peace.
The Justice of the Peace famous:
“The earlier Justice of the Peace had inquired whether or not the proposed assertion amounted to a confession beneath Part 127 of the Code of Prison Process. The suspect’s facet has said that it doesn’t.
If it isn’t a confession, the suspect doesn’t have the authorized capability at this stage to make every other assertion beneath Part 127 of the Code.”
Addressing a prosecution request to discontinue the requirement that the suspect be bodily produced earlier than courtroom, the Justice of the Peace said that he wouldn’t alter the order made by his predecessor. Nonetheless, he added:
“Bringing the suspect bodily earlier than courtroom could expose him to threats to his life. Due to this fact, in future hearings, the suspect shall be produced through video expertise.”
Following the supply of those rulings, Further Solicitor Common Dilipa Peiris, showing for the prosecution, made an additional submission.
“Your Honour, precisely two days after the final listening to, the third suspect commenced a starvation strike. He had been cooperative with the CID throughout the preliminary interval, however started the strike instantly after abroad journey bans have been obtained towards three people.
For a month, we have been unable to query him. In an effort to hold him alive till the conclusion of the case, we needed to administer pricey nutritional vitamins via a nasal tube. It seems that he has now ended the starvation strike.
We should now convey him again to the CID and proceed with the investigation. He’s a hacker, Your Honour. His cellphone and laptop computer are interconnected. We due to this fact request an order directing him to supply the passwords essential to entry these gadgets.”
President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando, showing for Suresh Sallay, objected to the request.
He argued:
“Article 13 of our Structure ensures the precise to a good trial, the presumption of innocence and the precise to stay silent.
Due to this fact, an order compelling the disclosure of passwords beneath Part 124 of the Code of Prison Process would violate these rights. I submit that Your Honour has no authorized authority to situation such an order.”
Nonetheless, after contemplating the submissions, Justice of the Peace Pasan Amarasena dominated that, beneath Part 124 of the Code of Prison Process and within the curiosity of facilitating the investigation, former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay should present investigators with the passwords to his cell phone and laptop computer.
The case was fastened for additional listening to on 2 September.
