**Two Ex-Sri Lanka Officials Sentenced to Death Over 2019 Easter Bombings**
*Colombo, Sri Lanka – August 1, 2026* – A special court in Sri Lanka has sentenced two former high-ranking officials to death for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals. The court found former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando guilty of criminal negligence in a ruling delivered on July 31, 2026.
The decision came from a three-member High Court bench, which reached a 2-1 verdict. The court's ruling marks a significant turn of events following a previous 2022 decision that had acquitted both men of all charges. The recent convictions were prompted by a state appeal against that earlier ruling.
The coordinated bombings, which occurred on April 21, 2019, targeted three churches—two Catholic and one Protestant—and three luxury hotels, devastating the nation and drawing international condemnation. A parliamentary committee investigation revealed that police and intelligence officials had ignored multiple warnings about potential attacks. Notably, an Indian intelligence agency had alerted Sri Lankan authorities about a possible suicide bombing as early as April 4, 2019, yet no preventive measures were taken.
Chaminda Athukorale, the lawyer representing Jayasundara and Fernando, announced plans to appeal the court's ruling within two weeks. He emphasized that the dissenting opinion within the court highlighted the lack of motive for the accused to commit such acts and their absence of connections to the actual perpetrators of the bombings.
The Easter Sunday attacks were attributed to two Sri Lanka-based groups inspired by the Islamic State (ISIL). While many individuals associated with these groups have been apprehended, none of those believed to have orchestrated the bombings are currently alive. Ongoing separate trials are addressing the involvement of individuals linked to the attackers.
The bombings resulted in the deaths of 279 people, including 45 foreign nationals, and left over 500 others injured. In response to the tragedy, Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church has voiced concerns, asserting that the individuals identified as perpetrators are not the masterminds behind the attacks, suggesting a larger conspiracy may be at play.
In a previous civil case, Jayasundara and Fernando were ordered to pay 125 million rupees (approximately $372,464) in damages to the survivors of the attacks.
While the death penalty has been imposed, it is important to note that Sri Lanka has maintained a moratorium on executions since 1976. Current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has expressed support for continuing this moratorium. Government figures indicate that there are approximately 800 individuals on death row, with sentences typically commuted to life imprisonment.
The sentencing of Jayasundara and Fernando represents a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka's ongoing struggle to address accountability for the Easter bombings, as the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attacks and the broader implications for national security and governance.