Archive · 2 Aug 2026
Sri Lankan Ex-Police Chief Sentenced to Death for 2019 Bombings
A court in Sri Lanka decided that two former top security officials, Pujith Jayasundara and Hemasiri Fernando, should be executed because they did not stop a big attack on churches and hotels in 2019 that killed 279 people.
The judges said the officials ignored warnings from India about a possible attack.
The death penalty has not been used in Sri Lanka since 1976, so this case is very unusual.
The two men are now in jail and can try to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
The court also said the officials’ negligence was a serious crime against humanity.
Former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defence ministry secretary Hemasiri Fernando were sentenced to death for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people.
The death sentences were handed down by a special fast‑track court after a state appeal against a 2022 acquittal.
Both men, aged 66 and 76, have been remanded to judicial custody and can appeal to the Supreme Court.
Sri Lanka has not executed anyone since 1976 and maintains an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment.
The court cited intelligence warnings from India and alleged negligence by the officials, labeling the acts as grave crimes against humanity.
- Who
- Former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defence ministry secretary Hemasiri Fernando
- What
- Sentenced to death for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings
- When
- Friday
- Where
- Sri Lanka
- Why
- Alleged negligence and failure to act on intelligence warnings
- Sentenced individuals
- Pujith Jayasundara, Hemasiri Fernando
- Sentence type
- Death penalty
- Date of sentencing
- Friday
- Number of victims
- 279
- Country
- Sri Lanka