Easter Bombing Case Back in Court as Trial Against Top Officials Continues

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today ordered that the case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara be recalled on June 12.

The case was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya, and Tilakaratne Bandara.

Both accused, former Defence Secretary Fernando and former IGP Jayasundara, were present in court during today’s proceedings.

After considering the submissions made, the bench fixed June 12 as the date to continue the case and to proceed with further arguments.

The case, filed by the Attorney General, alleges that the two top officials failed in their duty to act on prior intelligence warnings about the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, thereby committing criminal negligence and dereliction of duty.

The charges are linked to their alleged inaction despite receiving information that an attack was imminent.

The High Court Trial-at-Bar had previously acquitted both defendants on February 18, 2022, after the prosecution’s evidence was examined, without calling for their defence.

However, the Attorney General challenged that decision before the Supreme Court, arguing that it was legally flawed.

The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the High Court should have called for the defence before acquitting the accused, stating that the earlier decision was contrary to legal procedure.

Following that ruling, the case was ordered to be retried.