August 24, Colombo (LNW): The mother of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former head of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service, has appealed directly to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, asking that her son’s detention not be prolonged while investigations against him continue.
In a letter submitted to the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (24), she highlighted her son’s 37-year career in the Sri Lanka Army, saying he had devoted much of his life to national service at the expense of time that could otherwise have been spent with his family.
She made clear that her appeal was not intended to interfere with any investigation. If allegations have been made against Sallay, she said the relevant authorities should pursue them, assess the available evidence and determine the facts.
Her concern, however, was that prolonged detention should not become a substitute for establishing a case through evidence. She called on the authorities to ensure that any investigation is conducted fairly and that decisions concerning her son’s continued detention are supported by established facts.
Appealing in her capacity as a mother, she asked the President to consider allowing Sallay to remain free while the investigations proceed, stressing that she was not seeking preferential treatment or an exemption from the law.
She also sought a personal meeting with President Dissanayake, saying she wished only to make her case for justice, compassion and a fair opportunity for her son.
The retired senior military officer’s mother ultimately appealed for Sallay to be permitted to face any legal proceedings as a free man, while allowing the investigations to continue in accordance with the law.
