Pujith, Hemasiri taken to prison after sentencing

Saturday, 1 August 2026 01:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were taken into prison custody yesterday after the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar sentenced them to death over their failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks despite receiving prior intelligence warnings.

The majority decision of the three-judge bench found both former officials guilty of charges including criminal dereliction of duty and aiding and abetting murder, ruling that they failed to take necessary action despite intelligence indicating an imminent series of coordinated suicide bombings.

The case relates to the 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday attacks targeting churches and hotels across Sri Lanka, which killed 260 people and injured hundreds, including foreign nationals.

Prosecutors had argued that Jayasundara and Fernando failed to carry out their official responsibilities by not implementing preventive security measures after receiving intelligence warnings on the planned attacks.