Additional Solicitor General President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris has called for an end to the practice of merely forwarding important official communications with the notation “FNA” — For Necessary Action — citing the handling of intelligence ahead of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Peiris said it was time to move away from the “FNA” culture and ensure officials take responsibility for acting on critical information rather than simply passing it down the chain.

Referring to intelligence received ahead of the Easter Sunday attacks, Peiris said information communicated by the then State Intelligence Service chief on April 9, 2019, had been forwarded by then IGP Pujith Jayasundara to four divisions, including a unit responsible for VIP security.

He said the communication had been forwarded with the notation “FNA,” questioning whether such an approach was adequate when dealing with intelligence concerning a serious security threat.

Peiris also recalled that the Attorney General’s Department subsequently filed 855 charges against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Jayasundara over their alleged failure to take adequate action despite receiving prior intelligence.

Peiris said the experience demonstrated why merely writing “FNA” and forwarding information should no longer be considered sufficient when officials have a responsibility to act. (Newswire)

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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 Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has announced that the verdict in the case against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, will be delivered on July 31.

Jayasundara faces charges of criminal neglect of duty for allegedly failing to act on intelligence warnings of an imminent terrorist attack. 

The case was taken up today (12) before the Trial-at-Bar bench comprising Judges Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasooriya, and Thilakaratne Bandara. Oral and written submissions from all parties have now been concluded.

Meanwhile, the parallel case against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, also facing similar allegations, was heard today. 

Additional Solicitor General Sudarshana de Silva presented submissions for the complainant, while Attorney Chaminda Athukorala appeared for Fernando. The court ordered that Athukorala’s further submissions be continued on Monday (15).

The two high-profile cases are connected to proceedings surrounding the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. (Newswire)

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Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara has been released from the case on the alleged attempted criminal intimidation and assault of a Police Headquarters elevator operator in 2017.

He was released from the case by the Fort Magistrate’s Court when the matter was taken up for hearing today. 

On June 2, 2019, the lift number one operator at the Police Headquarters had lodged a complaint with the then Acting IGP over the incident.

The complainant alleged that on April 11, 2017, then IGP Pujith Jayasundera scolded him in foul language and grabbed him by the collar and attempted to assault him inside the elevator.

The incident had reportedly occurred in the backdrop of Jayasundara having instructed not to operate the elevator when the national anthem was being sung and meditation programs were being held. (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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