The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial‑at‑Bar has fixed July 31 to deliver verdicts in two high‑profile cases against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, both accused of criminal neglect in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The Attorney General filed charges alleging that despite receiving intelligence warnings of the imminent attacks, the officials failed to take preventive measures, amounting to dereliction of duty.

The case against Hemasiri Fernando was heard today before the three‑judge bench comprising Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasooriya, and Thilakaratne Bandara. 

Counsel Chaminda Athukorala concluded oral submissions on behalf of Fernando, after which the bench announced the verdict date.

Meanwhile, the trial against Pujith Jayasundara concluded last Friday, with the same bench ordering that judgment in his case, too, be delivered on July 31. (Newswire)

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The case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, facing charges including criminal negligence for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter attacks, has been ordered to be reconvened in September.

The case was heard today before the three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court, comprising Judges Namal Balalle and Mohamed Irshadeen.

During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, informed the court that Justice Adithya Patabendige, who was previously part of the three-judge bench, has now been promoted to the Court of Appeal. 

He said, therefore, steps are being taken to request the new Chief Justice to appoint a new judge bench.

Until the new bench is appointed, the Additional Solicitor General requested that the court assign a new date for the hearing.

After considering the submissions, the court ordered the case to be reconvened on September 18. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the recall of the defence in the case against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara related to the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.

The order was issued to the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today following the Attorney General’s Department’s appeal against the court’s acquittal of the duo without hearing their defence.

Fernand and Jayasundara are accused of failing to prevent the Easter attacks despite having prior intelligence information.

After conducting a long hearing on the appeals presented by the Attorney General, a five-member Supreme Court bench led by Preethi Padman Surasena reached a decision to recall the defence.

The Attorney General had previously filed a case against the former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and the former IGP Pujith Jayasundara before a three-judge bench of the Colombo Permanent High Court.

However, the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar that tried the cases had ruled to acquit both the defendants without calling the evidence of the defence.

The Attorney General had submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court, claiming that the decision of the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar was against the law and that it should be annulled.

Taking into consideration the appeal, the Supreme Court stated that the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar should have summoned the defendant during the trial and ordered the recall of the defence in the case. (Newswire)

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