Lanka’s ex-police chief indicted in Easter Sunday terror attack

Colombo, November 22

Sri Lanka’s former police chief Pujith Jayasundera was on Monday indicted with 855 charges of criminal negligence for failing to act despite receiving prior intelligence warnings in the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attack that killed nearly 270 persons, including 11 Indians.

The Attorney General read out the charges when the case was taken up before a three-judge High Court bench comprising Justices Namal Balalle, Aditya Patabendige and Mohamed Irshadeen.

A total of 855 charges of criminal negligence were levelled against Jayasundera, who pleaded not guilty.

Jayasundera was present in the courtroom when the charges were read out against him in the case, which has over 1,200 witnesses, lawyers said.

His lawyers insisted the former Inspector General was not guilty of ignoring prior intelligence.

Former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando, who was a key member in the defence ministry when the attack took place in April 2019, also faces similar charges.

Jayasundera and Fernando were suspended from service and arrested in connection with the case. However, they were later released on bail.

Both were accused by the then President Maithripala Sirisena for negligence over alleged inaction to prevent attacks despite the availability of prior intelligence on the attacks. — PTI

April 2019 incident

Nine suicide bombers belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat linked to ISIS carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels on April 21, 2019, killing nearly 270 persons, and injuring over 500.

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