Sri Lanka: Suspended Top Cop, Former Def Secy Arrested On Charges Of Ignoring Intel Before Easter Bombings

Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department yesterday (2 July) took into custody the country’s suspended police head, inspector-general Pujith Jayasundara and ex-defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando over the security failures leading up to the Easter bombings which killed almost 260 people, reports The Hindu.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera called the duo’s alleged failure to take action following intelligence warnings about a possible attack a “crime against humanity”.

Previously, names of nine police officials were brought up as suspects by the state prosecutor in relation to the security failures before the bombings. Fernando had quit his post after the bombings and Jayasundara was made to go on compulsory leave when he did not accept blame for the terror strike.

It has previously been reported that Indian Intelligence agencies had alerted Sri Lanka authorities about possible suicide attacks in the country but no one paid any heed to the Indian intelligence warnings as it was presumed that India was trying to pit the country against Pakistan.