Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and ex-IGP Pujith Jayasundara have been sentenced to death by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar for their failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks despite receiving prior intelligence.
The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has convicted former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara on 854 of 855 charges related to their roles in the security lapses that preceded the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. A three-judge majority reached guilty verdicts, while one judge dissented, finding the prosecution had not established guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Before sentencing, both officials addressed the court. Jayasundara acknowledged his responsibility as IGP for national security while maintaining he had never intentionally caused harm. He noted that other officials involved in the matter had been released while he faced sustained legal pressure. Fernando rejected the court's findings and argued that his position as Defence Secretary did not grant him independent operational authority. He claimed to have functioned under the then-Defence Minister and President Maithripala Sirisena, who was overseas during the attacks without appointing an acting minister.
Fernando alleged that State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena had worked directly with the President and withheld critical information on multiple occasions. He stated he received only two WhatsApp messages from Jayawardena the day before the attacks and no formal intelligence report. Fernando contended he lacked authority to deploy the military or impose a curfew, and questioned why other officials named in a presidential committee inquiry had not faced prosecution.
Fernando requested continued medical treatment in prison, citing his age of 76 and recent surgery, and declared to the court that "history will one day acquit me." The sentencing concludes a lengthy judicial process examining accountability for security failures that allowed the coordinated attacks to proceed.
