AG reads out 855 charges against ex-IGP Jayasundara

By AJA Abeynayake

The Attorney General yesterday read out before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, the indictment consisting of 855 charges against former IGP Pujith Jayasundara regarding his failure to take appropriate action to prevent a terrorist attack on Easter Sunday 2019 despite receiving adequate intelligence.

The Attorney General read out the charges when the case was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Namal Balalle, Aditya Patabendige and Mohamed Irshadeen yesterday.

Further hearings are currently ongoing.

Former IGP Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando have been charged with failing to take action to prevent a series of suicide bombings, targeting Catholic churches and five star hotels on Easter Sunday in 2019 despite receiving prior information.

The Attorney General has filed indictments under Sections 296 and 300 of the Penal Code, including attempted murder, against the two former top officials.