Sri Lankan cop, ex-official nabbed over Easter attacks

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Sri Lanka’s police inspector general and a former defense secretary were arrested Tuesday in connection with the deadly Easter Sunday bombings in April which killed around 260 people.

Sri Lanka’s public prosecutor charged Pujith Jayasundara and Hemasiri Fernando with failing in their duties and they were ordered to attend a court hearing today, The Island online reported.

Jayasundara and Fernando were admitted to the hospital after "falling ill" a day after learning that criminal action would be taken against them.

Around 260 people were killed and 500 others injured in a series of suicide bombings that rocked Colombo and adjoining areas on April 21 when Christians were attending Sunday mass. The bombers targeted churches and hotels.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera had asked acting Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickramaratne to produce Fernando and Jayasundara in court today over their failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks.

Jayasundara was suspended from his duties following the bombings.

The latest move by the Sri Lankan government comes after the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday bombings filed a report on June 26.

“The AG had decided that Fernando and Jayasundera had neglected their duties and therefore had been unable to prevent the terrorist attacks,” said the Attorney General’s coordinating officer, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne.