Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando claimed that the judgment delivered in the Easter Sunday attacks case was the “final outcome of a conspiracy” behind the 2019 bombings, alleging that Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Nilantha Jayawardena and former President Maithripala Sirisena would be the two people most pleased with the verdict.
Fernando made the remarks moments before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar sentenced him to death after finding him guilty of failing to prevent the Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving prior intelligence warnings.
Addressing the court before sentencing, Fernando said, “Your Lordship, this judgment is the final outcome of the conspiracy behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks. There are two people who will be happy with this verdict. They are Nilantha Jayawardena, whom the Attorney General’s Department has protected from the very beginning, and former President Maithripala Sirisena.”
The majority bench of the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar subsequently sentenced Fernando to death after finding him guilty on charges including failing to prevent the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks despite receiving intelligence warnings, dereliction of duty and aiding murder.
