Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara Sentenced to Death Over Easter Sunday Attacks Case

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today (31) sentenced former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara to death after finding him guilty of aiding and abetting deaths through the dereliction of official duties in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

The case was heard before a three-judge comprising Priyantha Liyanage, Thilakarathna Bandara and Viraj Weerasuriya.

Delivering the verdict, President of the Bench Judge Priyantha Liyanage and Judge Thilakarathna Bandara ruled that Pujith Jayasundara was guilty of the charges brought against him, while Judge Viraj Weerasuriya held that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

In accordance with the majority decision of the bench, the former Police Chief was found guilty on 854 of the 855 charges filed against him.

The charges relate to allegations that despite receiving intelligence warnings regarding a possible terrorist attack, the accused failed to take necessary action, resulting in the Easter Sunday bombings that claimed hundreds of lives and left many others injured.

Meanwhile, the Trial-at-Bar is yet to deliver its verdict with regard to former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, whose judgment is expected to be announced separately.