2019 Easter Attacks: Case against Hemasiri, Pujith to be taken up once again in March

The Colombo High Court has ordered that the case filed against former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara—who are accused of criminal negligence and failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks despite having received prior intelligence—be taken up again on 23 March.

The case filed by the Attorney General was called before the Colombo High Court today.

During the initial hearing of the case today, both Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundara appeared before the court, said Ada Derana reporter.

Last year, a three-judge High Court bench ordered that former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara be acquitted and released without calling for evidence from the defence.

The Attorney General appealed the decision and the Supreme Court set aside the High Court ruling that freed the two defendants. The Supreme Court then directed the High Court trial-at-bar to rehear the case, call evidence from the defence and deliver a new verdict thereafter.

Accordingly, the case was rescheduled for today.