Ex-IGP made prior warning of Easter Sunday attack to 4 top Police officers: Senior DIG

Wednesday, 19 January 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Former IGP Pujitha Jayasundera had made prior warning about the Easter Sunday attack on Catholic churches to four of the top Police officers including DIG Western Police and to the DIG in charge of the STF, said Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon yesterday before the trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court.

DIG Tennakoon made this assertion before the three judges of Trial-at-Bar, giving evidence led by Deputy Solicitor General Deleepa Pieris.

DIG Tennakoon further said that at the day the suicide attack took place, he was on leave and he went on leave from 18 to 20 August 2019.

He also asserted that the information over the attack was given to the IGP by the State Intelligence Unit which the IGP had communicated to his subordinates to take appropriate action.

The Attorney General had indicted former IGP Jayasundera before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar on 855 charges for his failure to take appropriate action to prevent the terrorist attack that took place on Easter Sunday 2019 despite receiving adequate intelligence reports.

IGP Jayasundera 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 top officials.