Sri Lanka has handed death sentences to two of its former top security officials — ex‑police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando — for failing to act on intelligence warnings ahead of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, one of the deadliest terror attacks in the country’s history. The coordinated suicide blasts, carried out by a homegrown Islamist extremist group responsible for severe harm and loss of life, killed 279 people, including 45 foreign nationals.
The verdict was delivered by a three‑judge fast‑track court, which ruled by majority that both officials had neglected their duties despite receiving multiple alerts. Notably, the court heard that Indian intelligence agencies had warned Sri Lankan authorities on 4 April 2019 about possible suicide attacks targeting churches and hotels. Despite this, no preventive action was taken.
Friday’s judgement followed a state appeal against a 2022 decision that had previously acquitted the duo. Jayasundara, 66, and Fernando, 76, have been remanded to judicial custody and may appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court.
Sri Lanka maintains an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment and has not carried out an execution since 1976. More than 800 prisoners are currently on death row, with sentences typically commuted to life imprisonment. Whether these latest sentences will be carried out remains uncertain.
The Easter bombings marked a turning point in Sri Lanka’s security landscape, exposing failures in intelligence coordination and crisis preparedness. The new ruling signals an attempt to enforce accountability at the highest levels of government.