A Sri Lankan High Court sentenced former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death for criminal negligence related to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed between 260 and 279 people and injured hundreds more.

The coordinated attacks targeted three tourist hotels and three churches—two Catholic and one Protestant. The court proceedings revealed that an Indian intelligence agency had alerted Sri Lanka on April 4, 2019, about a possible suicide attack, but authorities failed to act on the warning.

The sentencing was decided by a 2-1 majority of a three-member High Court bench at a special fast-track court. This ruling followed the state's appeal against a 2022 decision that had acquitted the two officials.

While sentenced to death, Sri Lanka has had a moratorium on executions since 1976, meaning death penalties typically result in life imprisonment. Government figures shared with parliament in February indicate there are at least 800 people on death row, with most sentences commuted.

The former officials intend to appeal the sentences handed down for neglecting intelligence warnings prior to the attacks.

Sources