Story perspectives

Sri Lanka Sentences Police Chief, Defence Secretary to Death

7/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Trial-at-Bar sentenced police chief Pujith Jayasundara and defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death July 31 2026.
The court said their negligence, after an Indian warning on April 4 2019, enabled the April 21 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 and injured 500.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected 2024, pledged accountability, kept the death-penalty moratorium and said the convicted may appeal while Sri Lanka has not executed a death sentence since 1976.

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Story summary

The Trial-at-Bar sentenced police chief Pujith Jayasundara and defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death July 31 2026.
The court said their negligence, after an Indian warning on April 4 2019, enabled the April 21 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 and injured 500.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected 2024, pledged accountability, kept the death-penalty moratorium and said the convicted may appeal while Sri Lanka has not executed a death sentence since 1976.