AG directs police to produce IGP, former Def. Sec in court

Pujith Jayasundara	Hemasiri Fernando

• Sufficient evidence to implicate them with criminal and gross negligence of official duties
• Stand accused of “grave crimes against humanity” under international law
• Chides Acting IGP for disregarding his directive given on 27 June to produce them in court
• Asks Acting IGP to explain in writing reason for delay

By Chandani Kirinde

Attorney General Dappula De Livera yesterday directed the Acting IGP to produce IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando in court saying the two stand accused of “grave crimes against humanity” for gross negligence of their duties which led to the 21 April terror attacks.

In a hard-hitting letter sent to Acting IGP Chandana Wickremaratne yesterday, the AG also reprimanded the acting Police Chief of not acting on his directive given in a letter dated 27 June to name the two men as suspects and produce them in court.

“These incidents fall into the gravest category in Sri Lanka’s criminal history. 

This incident that took place was due to gross negligence on their part and constitute crimes that fall into the category of ‘grave crimes against humanity’ under international criminal law,” the AG said in letter.

He chided the Acting IGP saying he considered the failure by Wickremaratne to act on his directive given last Thursday a serious matter and asked him to send him a written explanation on the reason for the delay by last yesterday evening.

The AG in his letter dated 27 June said that there is sufficient evidence to implicate Jayasundera and Fernando in criminal negligence as well as gross negligence of their official duties in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.

The directive from the AG was made after he considered the contents of the final report dated 7 June, 2019 of the ‘Special Board of Inquiry Appointed to Inquire into the Series of Incidents Related to the Explosions that Occurred at Several Places in the Island on 21 April, 2019’ as well as a report from the CID which was submitted to him on 26 June.

The AG said that as there is sufficient evidence that Jayasundera and Fernando have committed offenses  for which they can be punished under Sections 296, 298,327, 328 , 329 and 410 of the Penal Code and would record statements from them, report facts to the relevant magistrate and produce them in court.

Meanwhile, Co-ordinating Secretary to the AG State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said that there was no reply from the Acting IGP by last evening to the AG’s letter seeking a written explanation from him.