Manori Sallay, the wife of former Director of the State Intelligence Service and retired Major General Suresh Sallay, has sent a letter to all members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, led by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.
In the letter, she has appealed for their support and intervention based on the principles of fairness and justice.
The letter states:
“As the wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, I write to Your Eminences with the utmost respect and humility. At a time when my husband’s reputation, honour, and dignity are being publicly destroyed before any court has determined whether he is guilty or innocent, and while our family watches helplessly, I earnestly seek your intervention in light of the severe physical, psychological, and emotional suffering he is enduring.
My husband, retired Major General Suresh Sallay, is one of Sri Lanka’s most highly respected senior military officers. During his distinguished military career spanning more than 35 years, he received numerous gallantry, combat, and long-service medals in recognition of his dedication, leadership, and service to the nation.
Throughout his career, particularly during his tenure in senior positions, he faithfully served under five successive Presidents of Sri Lanka without political affiliation, demonstrating unwavering loyalty to the State and its people rather than to any political party or individual.
He dedicated his life entirely to the security and protection of Sri Lanka. During his years of service, he was never found guilty of any disciplinary offence nor punished for any criminal wrongdoing.
However, today he is being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act solely as a suspect in an ongoing investigation. He has not been convicted of any offence, nor has any court declared him guilty.
Judicial proceedings are still ongoing. Yet, despite this fundamental reality, many people have already judged him guilty in the court of public opinion.
The principle that every person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty is not merely a legal doctrine.
Sadly, this principle appears to have been forgotten. Long before any court has delivered a verdict, my husband is being publicly punished.
Your Eminences, during the various investigations conducted over several years into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks—including those carried out with the assistance of institutions such as the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Australian Federal Police—my husband was never identified as a suspect.
Despite those investigations, and despite the absence of any judicial finding against him, he is now being publicly portrayed as the principal architect or ‘mastermind’ behind one of the darkest tragedies in our nation’s history.
The suffering this has caused our family is immeasurable. With deep sorrow, we draw Your Eminences’ attention to the current public narrative against my husband, which is actively promoted by Reverend Father Jude Rohan Silva and Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando.
For a considerable period, public statements made by these priests have advanced the view that my husband was the ‘mastermind’ behind the Easter Sunday attacks, despite ongoing judicial proceedings and despite the fact that no court has found him guilty.
It is particularly troubling that such public assertions are being made by individuals who are witnesses in the investigation and who therefore have a close connection to the matters under inquiry.
It is deeply concerning that officials whose own conduct relating to the Easter Sunday tragedy has been questioned are involved in directing, supervising, or influencing investigations arising from those very events.
Even more distressing is the alleged treatment my husband has received while in State custody. Reports indicate that he has been subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
It is further reported that Judicial Medical Officers and consulting psychiatrists have identified serious psychological disturbances consistent with torture and ill-treatment.”
