A majority bench of the Colombo Trial-at-Bar has sentenced former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara to death after finding him guilty over his failure to act on intelligence warnings ahead of the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
The three-judge bench, comprising Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya and Thilakaratne Bandara, delivered the judgment after hearing the case.
Judges Priyantha Liyanage and Thilakaratne Bandara, forming the majority, found Jayasundara guilty of failing to prevent the attacks despite receiving prior intelligence, neglecting his official duties, and aiding murder through omission.
Delivering the majority verdict, the court stated that although intelligence had been received warning of imminent suicide attacks targeting Catholic churches and tourist hotels in Colombo and surrounding areas, the former IGP failed to take the necessary preventive measures.
The judges noted that 268 people were killed and 586 others injured in the Easter Sunday attacks, emphasizing that as the country's Police Chief at the time, Jayasundara had a legal duty to protect the public and maintain national security.
Considering the seriousness of the offences, the majority bench imposed the death sentence on the former IGP.
However, Judge Viraj Weerasuriya, delivering the dissenting opinion, ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and stated that Jayasundara should be acquitted.
Meanwhile, the court is expected to deliver its verdict in the related case against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando.
The judgment was delivered over a period of more than four hours.
