DIG Dhammika Priyantha has been appointed as the head of the State Intelligence Service.
He previously served as the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department and the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit.
Author: TELO Admin
Sri Lanka spy chief sacked, agency returns to police control
The head of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service (SIS) was sacked on Saturday, and the premier spy agency was brought back under the control of the police after nearly five years.
Retired Major General Suresh Sallay was dismissed after he refused to resign following the takeover by the new government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, an official source involved in the shake-up told Economynext.
Police Deputy Inspector General Dhammika Priyantha, who had earlier served at the CID/FCID, was appointed as the director of the SIS, bringing the agency back under the police’s jurisdiction.
The SIS had shifted to military control under Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, but his successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, not only retained the controversial Major General Sallay but also re-employed him after his retirement.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa had blamed Sallay’s SIS for intelligence failures that led to his downfall in July 2022, following months of street protests against acute shortages of food, fuel, and medicines amid the country’s worst economic crisis.
Sallay was present, along with other service chiefs, when Rajapaksa was forced to flee the President’s House in Colombo as mobs of protesters stormed it on July 9, 2022.
Sallay had failed to alert Rajapaksa about a group of women storming Rajapaksa’s private home on March 31, 2022, an event that marked a turning point leading to his eventual downfall. Rajapaksa disclosed the intelligence failures of Sallay in his book,
The Catholic Church had repeatedly urged successive governments to take action against Sallay, who was accused of involvement in the Easter Sunday bombings of April 2019.
A British newspaper reported in September 2023 that Sallay had orchestrated the Easter Sunday bomb plot while working for the Directorate of Military Intelligence, with the aim of creating instability to pave the way for the Rajapaksas to return to power.
The Times newspaper said that the deadly bombings, which killed at least 280 people, including 45 foreign nationals, were orchestrated by Sri Lanka’s military intelligence.
Sallay was promoted to head of the State Intelligence Service shortly after Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power in November 2019. He was recently given a one-year service extension by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and when it ended, he was re-employed as a retired officer.
Islamic extremists set off suicide bombings at two Catholic churches, a Christian church, and three hotels. The attacks were later claimed by the Islamic State group.
Sallay has denied the allegations and has counter-sued Catholic priests who accused him. He has also filed a civil defamation case against Yasmin Sooka, a former South African chief justice, who accused Sallay of masterminding the bombings.
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID), then headed by Ravi Seneviratne, concluded that the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) where Sallay employed had attempted to mislead those investigating the April 2019 bombings.
Seneviratne’s team of detectives, led by Shani Abeysekera, also found a direct link between DMI operatives and several suicide bombers involved in the most audacious terror attack in the country’s history.
With Seneviratne now heading the Public Security Ministry as its secretary and in charge of the police department, investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks have resumed
Over 120 independent groups place deposits for General Elections
A total of 122 independent groups have placed their cash deposits for the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 14, 2024, the Election Commission stated.
The groups made their deposits between September 25 to October 04.
Key districts with the highest number of deposits include Batticaloa (15), Jaffna (15), Digamadulla (11), Trincomalee (12) and Colombo (12).
Reciprocal Cultural visit between Indian and Sri Lankan Armed Forces
Reciprocal cultural visit between Indian and Sri Lankan Armed forces commenced on 02 October 2024, with arrival of Indian Air Force Aircraft with 120 Indian Armed forces personnel at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo. During the course of next three days, Indian delegation will be visiting cultural sites in and around Nuwara Eliya. The aircraft departed with 120 Sri Lankan Armed forces personnel for a three day long visit to Bodh Gaya, India.
A ceremonial welcome was accorded to the incoming delegation and were received by senior officers of Indian High Commission, Colombo and Sri Lankan Armed forces. A memento exchange between the heads of delegations from both sides was followed by a group photograph. The aim of this cultural exchange is to further enhance people to people contact between both the Armed Forces and exposing them to each other’s cultural heritage.
Bilateral relations between Indian and Sri Lankan Armed forces in line with India’s Neighbourhood First Policy has been deep rooted and extensive. Defence cooperation between both the nations spans across multiple spheres including training, capability development of Sri Lankan Armed forces personnel, bilateral exercises, bilateral goodwill visits by Navy and Coast Guard ships and people to people contact.
It may be recalled that similar cultural exchanges have taken place twice in the past with last visit in June 2019 wherein 80 Armed Forces personnel from both sides have visited India and Sri Lanka respectively. These visits were halted post Covid, however, through the efforts of Ministry of Defence from both sides and High Commission of India in Colombo, these cultural exchanges have re-commenced this year.
SLFP’s leftists to support NPP
The left-leaning camp within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to fully back the National People’s Power (NPP) without any conditions attached.
Treasurer of the group Hector Bethmage made the announcement to the media in Colombo yesterday (03).
He claimed to have the support of around 40 of the party’s electoral organizers.
The NPP government’s programme is very similar to the SLFP founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s principles, said Bethmage.
Meanwhile, Mahinda Amaraweera said the SLFP was yet to decide on how to contest the upcoming general election.
Allying with certain parties is under consideration, he said.
India’s economic support critical to meet aspirations of the people – President tells Indian EAM
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar today (04) called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Highlighting that India’s economic support is critical to realize his vision of a prosperous Sri Lanka and meeting the aspirations of the people, President Dissanayake referred to the potential of export of renewable energy to India, which could help reduce production costs in Sri Lanka and create additional resources.
The President also noted the contribution of Indian tourists and recognized that this has the potential to grow further.
Briefing the President about ongoing initiatives in the field of energy production and transmission, fuel and LNG supply, solar electrification of religious places, connectivity, digital public infrastructure, health and dairy development, EAM Jaishankar highlighted that they would contribute to economic sustainability and provide new streams of revenue.
Regarding security and defence, the meeting brought out that the interests of India and Sri Lanka were closely intertwined. Their collaboration was in mutual interest and contributed to the stability and security of the region. The importance of a continuous dialogue that would promote trust, transparency and mutual sensitivity was recognized.
President Dissanayake reiterated that Sri Lankan territory would never be allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India’s security interests.
On Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, EAM Jaishnakar recalled that India had been supportive of Sri Lanka’s economic stability and recovery from the very start. It was the first country to give financing assurances, which enabled the IMF to finalize the Extended Fund Facility. He confirmed India’s support in the Official Creditors’ Committee in respect of Sri Lanka’s agreement with International Sovereign Bond holders. He noted that India is also willing to expedite the conclusion of its bilateral MoU with Sri Lanka and the President conveyed his appreciation in that regard.
EAM Jaishankar also raised the concerns pertaining to Indian fishermen who are detained in Sri Lanka and pressed for their early release, as well as of their boats, and reconsideration of the heavy fines imposed on them. He said that a humanitarian approach focused on livelihood issues would create a durable basis for addressing this matter. Noting that a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries and of the Fishermen Associations would be timely, EAM Jaishankar appreciated the release of 50 Indian fishermen today.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Amarasuriya, he underlined that the Government of India was prepared to respond to the training and capacity building requirements of Sri Lanka. Their discussion also focused on the benefits of digital public infrastructure.
EAM Jaishnakar conveyed India’s strong commitment to advance bilateral cooperation based on its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and SAGAR outlook during his meeting with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
In this context, he assured that India’s ongoing development assistance to Sri Lanka through projects of Sri Lankan priority will be continued. He emphasized that India has offered to modernize the Kankesanthurai port through a grant to the tune of USD 61.5 million. He also conveyed that payments for 7 completed Line of Credit projects to the tune of USD 20 million could be converted into grants. India has also decided to gift 22 diesel locomotives to the Sri Lankan Railways.
With regard to the ethnic issue and the reconciliation process, EAM Jaishnakar reiterated India’s support for the aspirations of all communities, including Tamils, for equality, justice, dignity, peace while maintaining the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
He added that the full and effective implementation of the 13th Amendment of its Constitution and the early holding of Provincial Council elections will facilitate these objectives.
EAM Jaishankar also met former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa.
Jaishankar meets Ranil, Sajith and Harini during Sri Lanka visit
Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Subramaniam Jaishankar, who arrived in Sri Lanka on an official visit this morning, has met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in separate meetings today.
Earlier today, Jaishankar had called on Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo and also met with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Vijitha Herath at the Foreign Ministry.
Posting on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), after meeting Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, the Indian foreign minister said he conveyed good wishes for her new responsibility.
“Discussed Digital Public Infrastructure, training and capacity building. Agreed to work together to advance our partnership,” he said.
Following his meeting with Wickremesinghe, Jaishankar said he was glad to see the former President today and that he “thanked him for his efforts in advancing our ties in the last two years.”
The Indian Foreign Minister also said he “assured him that India will continue to commit to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development.”
After meeting with former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Jaishankar said India appreciates his continued support for the India-Sri Lanka relationship.
International community should support Sri Lanka: Erik Solheim
The international community should support Sri Lanka in building a peaceful, multi ethnic, green and prosperous Sri Lanka, Norwegian diplomat and former politician Erik Solheim said.
He said in a message posted on X that it is only two weeks since Sri Lanka elected Anura Kumara Dissanayaka as President but he has used the time well.
“He got the diplomacy exactly right. First meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, then the Chinese ambassador, signalling that India is most important for Sri Lanka, then comes China next. Later he met ambassadors from everywhere else, the West, Russia and more. This is a clear signal of a ‘Sri Lanka first’ foreign policy. Immediately upon swearing in he visited the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and was blessed by the mahanayakes. Later he met with Tamil and Muslim political and religious leaders. His insistence on creating a Sri Lanka for all ethnic communities is strong,” he said.
Solheim said the President has reached out to the business community underlining that he can create a prosperous Sri Lanka and bring the resources needed to improve education, health and opportunities for the poor only by working closely with business.
“He brings a non-corrupt core of people to state power. By reducing luxury car allowances for ministers, he signals a more modest life style for leaders. None of this will by itself solve all problems in Sri Lanka. It will not calm all skepticism to a left wing leader among diplomats. But it is for sure a good start. Everyone should now roll up their sleeves and help him build a peaceful, multi ethnic, green and prosperous Sri Lanka,” he further said.
AKD Gets Wishes From King Charles III & UK PM
The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, made a courtesy call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (02) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The visit marked an important step in reinforcing the strong diplomatic relations between the two countries, said the President’s Media Division.
During the meeting, High Commissioner Patrick congratulated President Dissanayake on his recent election and conveyed the British government’s best wishes for his tenure.
He also conveyed personal congratulations and warm wishes from King Charles III and the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer expressing their goodwill for the President’s leadership.
The High Commissioner expressed British government’s strong support for Sri Lanka’s efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and emphasized the importance of collaboration in the education sector. He also conveyed the UK’s support towards the IMF programme and the debt restructuring process.
China pledges full support for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and economic stability
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (02) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
The Ambassador extended his heartfelt congratulations to the President on his recent election victory and expressed China’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in its future endeavours, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
Ambassador Qi reaffirmed the Chinese government’s continued commitment to enhancing bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, emphasizing the significance of on-going collaborative projects.
He highlighted the active engagement of the China Development Bank (CDB) and EXIM Bank in supporting Sri Lanka’s development initiatives, the statement said.
Moreover, Ambassador Qi had assured that both institutions, as key commercial and bilateral creditors, will provide comprehensive assistance in the debt restructuring process, underscoring China’s dedication to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic stability and growth.