Former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has been acquitted and released from the charges filed against him pertaining to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Fernando was acquitted and released by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today.
Charges were filed against the former official following investigations conducted by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that was appointed to probe the Easter attacks.
Former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was charged with criminal negligence of duty for failing to take action to prevent the Easter attacks despite receiving specific intelligence.
A total of 855 charges of criminal negligence were levelled against Hemasiri Fernando.
The verdict to release the former official was announced by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar consisting of Justices Namal Balalle, Aditya Patabendige, and Mohamed Irshadeen. (NewsWire)