Colombo, Jul 21 (PTI) Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church on Monday urged the government to initiate criminal proceedings against Nilantha Jayawardena, who headed the State Intelligence Service during the 2019 Easter bombings.
The move comes days after the former deputy inspector general of police was formally dismissed from the service last week by an independent police commission for failing to prevent the blasts that claimed 279 lives.
The National Police Commission (NPC) terminated Jayawardena’s service following a disciplinary inquiry that found him guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty. The inquiry concluded that he had disregarded prior intelligence warnings about potential attacks by Islamic extremists.
“We urge the government to implement the presidential commission recommendations on him,” Father Cyril Gamini, spokesperson for the Archbishop of Colombo, told reporters here.
The presidential panel of inquiry into the 2019 suicide bombings, which killed 270 people at churches and tourist hotels, had recommended action against top officials for criminal negligence due to their failure to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence.
Jayawardena, who was placed on compulsory leave by NPC in July 2024, pending an internal investigation, is the most senior police officer held accountable for dereliction of duty in connection with the bombings. He was also ordered to pay a LKR 75 million fine as compensation to the victims.
Gamini expressed satisfaction with the progress of investigations under the current government, stating, “We understand that both the police’s CID and the government are genuinely committed to the investigations.” The Church had previously voiced dissatisfaction with probes spanning three different governments, terming them a political cover-up. PTI CORR SCY SCY
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