Sri Lanka’s ex-police chief and ex-bureaucrat sentenced to death for 2019 Easter Sunday attack
Colombo High Court sentenced former Sri Lankan police chief Pujith Jayasundera and defence ministry bureau official Hemasiri Fernando to death for roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Sri Lanka’s Colombo High Court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundera and defence ministry bureau official Hemasiri Fernando to death for roles linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The Colombo High Court convicted both Pujith Jayasundera and Hemasiri Fernando of criminal dereliction of duty — criminal negligence in carrying out an official responsibility — on the ground that they failed to act on prior intelligence that could have helped prevent the bombings.
The Colombo High Court permitted Pujith Jayasundera and Hemasiri Fernando to appeal to the Supreme Court and remanded both in judicial custody until bail is granted.
The Easter Sunday attacks were coordinated suicide attacks targeting churches and luxury hotels, and they killed 279 people on 19 April 2019.
Background and earlier intelligence-related controversy
