By: Isuru Parakrama
November 05, Colombo (LNW): In a significant development, the Supreme Court has ordered the resumption of legal proceedings against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara, following an appeal by the Attorney General (AG).
This appeal contests a previous ruling by the Colombo High Court, which acquitted the two officials of charges related to their alleged failure to avert the tragic 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, despite having received prior intelligence about potential threats.
The AG’s appeal was prompted by a verdict from a three-member panel of High Court judges that cleared both Fernando and Jayasundara of charges of criminal dereliction of duty and murder.
This ruling, which shocked many, was based on the court’s decision to acquit the defendants without requiring any defence testimonies, a move that raised eyebrows given the severity of the allegations.
The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the AG’s appeal was reached after extensive hearings conducted by a five-member bench led by Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.
During these proceedings, the Supreme Court judges underscored that the High Court had erred in not calling for the defence’s input during the original hearings.
The court expressed that proper judicial process mandates that all parties involved should have the opportunity to present their case fully.
The 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, which claimed over 270 lives and injured many more, were a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the nation’s security apparatus.
