Sri Lanka arrested former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Sri Lanka Minister Ananda Wijepala said Major General Suresh Sallay directed the 2019 Easter bombings and planned them with full awareness. According to independent.co.uk, Suresh Sallay is a retired army major general. The bombings occurred on 21 April 2019 and targeted churches and hotels, according to independent.co.uk. The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings killed 279 people, according to India, while independent.co.uk and other sources reported nearly 270 deaths. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to independent.co.uk, and was not known to have a presence in Sri Lanka until then, according to the same source. The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings revived memories of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war involving suicide bombings, assassinations, and guerrilla warfare, according to independent.co.uk. According to the Hindu, Sri Lanka Minister Ananda Wijepala said Major General Suresh Sallay identified a Catholic church to be bombed.