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Suresh Salle's Hunger Strike and Torture Allegations: A Political Drama to Sabotage Investigations?

By Ruwan Weerakoon

(Lanka-e-News -2026.June.09, 11.45 PM) The family members of Retired Major General Tuan Suresh Salle, the former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), along with Member of Parliament Udaya Gammanpila, recently revealed to the media that Salle has commenced a hunger strike by refusing food and medicine while in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Arrested on February 25, 2026, in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks investigation, Salle is currently being interrogated under a 90-day detention order issued by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Defense.

Torture Allegations and Contradictions in Statements

While Salle’s faction alleges that he was subjected to torture and sexual harassment during detention, investigations have revealed glaring contradictions in the statements he provided at different stages:

Early March (Before the Magistrate): He stated that he faced no issues or torture, and that only a routine physical search was conducted.

Early May (Before the Judicial Medical Officer - JMO): He claimed that his clothes were removed and his rectum was examined.

Before the Psychiatrist: He stated that he was searched with his clothes lowered, adding that he felt too embarrassed to elaborate further.

The Reality: Standard Security Procedure or Torture?

Investigations into the nature of these searches have confirmed that they were conducted not by CID officers, but by an independent team from the Police Special Task Force (STF).

Background: Following an incident during the previous administration where a notorious organized criminal known as "Harak Kata" attempted to escape CID custody, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was established. Under this, the STF conducts daily and random searches to ensure detainees are not concealing narcotics or contraband inside their bodies (a practice locally referred to as bunker gasiima).

Serious Evidence Leading to the Arrest

The CID emphasizes that Suresh Salle was not arrested solely based on the statements made by Azad Maulana on the 'Channel 4' network. The arrest is grounded on several other severe pieces of evidence:

Informant Testimony: Testimony from an informant named 'Pettha' claiming Salle communicated near the Katuwapitiya Church, alongside evidence of Salle providing instructions to another informant named 'Roomi'.

Tampering with Evidence: Allegations of pressuring Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) to alter the DNA reports of Sarah Jasmin.

Aiding Terrorists: Phone records indicate Salle directed Azad Maulana to rescue and transport the individual who brought the bomb to the Taj Samudra Hotel.

A Deliberate Attempt to Sabotage the Investigation

Observers note that Suresh Salle, who was initially fully cooperative with the investigation, abruptly changed his behavior following the recent travel bans imposed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Major General Udulagama, and Colonel Mohamed Ansar.

Dramatic measures taken by his lawyers—such as forwarding letters to the IGP and the CID requesting to draft their client's last will—have raised heavy suspicions. It appears to be a calculated attempt to derail the successfully progressing Easter Sunday attack investigations and divert international attention.

While torture against any suspect in police custody cannot be condoned under any circumstances, attempting to suppress a national process seeking justice for the victims of a terrorist attack that claimed over two hundred lives through such political and tactical maneuvers remains a matter of grave concern.