India, June 10 -- A former Sri Lankan intelligence chief has been linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks that killed 279 people, seven years ago. Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay "directed" the events that led to the coordinated bombings, public security minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament on Wednesday.

"Investigations have revealed that retired major general Tuan Suresh Sallay conspired with and strategically directed Islamic extremists until they carried out the attacks," the minister said, as per AFP. It was the first time such an allegation was made in parliament.

The minister added that Sallay had identified a Catholic church that was later bombed. Weeks before the blasts, he said, Sallay met people linked to the plot and ga...