Latest news with #Jayawardena
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sri Lanka Catholics seek prosecution of sacked spy chief
Sri Lanka's Catholic Church on Monday demanded the criminal prosecution of the intelligence chief who was sacked for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners. Church spokesman Cyril Gamini Fernando said they welcomed the dismissal days ago of Nilantha Jayawardena, who was head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) when jihadist suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels. "This (sacking) is for the negligence part of it, but we want the authorities to investigate Jayawardena's role in the attack itself," Fernando told reporters in Colombo. "We want a criminal prosecution." He said evidence presented before several courts and commissions of inquiry indicated that the SIS, under Jayawardena, had attempted to cover up the actions of the jihadists in the lead-up to the April 21 attacks. "Six years on, we are still looking for answers. We want to know the truth about who was behind the attack," he said. Jayawardena, 52, was dismissed Saturday from the police department, where he was the second most senior officer in charge of administration and on track to become the next inspector-general. Court proceedings have revealed that both military and police intelligence units were closely linked to the home-grown jihadists, and some had even been on the payroll of the intelligence services. The current ruling party, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, had while in opposition accused Gotabaya Rajapaksa of orchestrating the attacks to win the 2019 presidential election. The once powerful Rajapaksa family has denied the allegations. The attacks occurred despite a warning from an intelligence agency in neighbouring India, which alerted Jayawardena 17 days before the devastating bombings. He was found guilty of ignoring a series of alerts. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings, Sri Lanka's worst jihadist attack on civilians. Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief in December 2019 but was later promoted to deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending the disciplinary inquiry, following repeated judicial orders to take action against him. aj/bb/rsc Solve the daily Crossword
The Star
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sri Lanka Catholics seek prosecution of sacked spy chief
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Catholic Church on Monday (July 21) demanded the criminal prosecution of the intelligence chief who was sacked for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners. Church spokesman Cyril Gamini Fernando said they welcomed the dismissal days ago of Nilantha Jayawardena (pic), who was head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) when jihadist suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels. "This (sacking) is for the negligence part of it, but we want the authorities to investigate Jayawardena's role in the attack itself," Fernando told reporters in Colombo. "We want a criminal prosecution." He said evidence presented before several courts and commissions of inquiry indicated that the SIS, under Jayawardena, had attempted to cover up the actions of the jihadists in the lead-up to the April 21 attacks. "Six years on, we are still looking for answers. We want to know the truth about who was behind the attack," he said. Jayawardena, 52, was dismissed Saturday from the police department, where he was the second most senior officer in charge of administration and on track to become the next inspector-general. Court proceedings have revealed that both military and police intelligence units were closely linked to the home-grown jihadists, and some had even been on the payroll of the intelligence services. The current ruling party, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, had while in opposition accused Gotabaya Rajapaksa of orchestrating the attacks to win the 2019 presidential election. The once powerful Rajapaksa family has denied the allegations. The attacks occurred despite a warning from an intelligence agency in neighbouring India, which alerted Jayawardena 17 days before the devastating bombings. He was found guilty of ignoring a series of alerts. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings, Sri Lanka's worst jihadist attack on civilians. Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief in December 2019 but was later promoted to deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending the disciplinary inquiry, following repeated judicial orders to take action against him. - AFP
Express Tribune
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sri Lanka sacks top cop over Easter Sunday bombings
Sri Lanka's independent regulator has sacked a senior police officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. The National Police Commission dismissed Nilantha Jayawardena, then head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), for disregarding prior warnings of an impending attack. Court records show that Jayawardena had been alerted to a possible terror strike 17 days before the coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019 which targeted three hotels and three churches. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings. Jayawardena had been found guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty by a disciplinary inquiry led by a retired judge, the police commission said in a statement late Saturday. "Considering the gravity of the charges, the Commission decided to give him the maximum punishment," the statement said. Following the Easter bombings, Sri Lanka's worst terror attack on civilians, Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief but was elevated to the role of deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending a disciplinary hearing, after repeated judicial orders to take action against him. A top-level investigation initiated shortly after the attack found that then-president Maithripala Sirisena and four of his senior officials, including Jayawardena, should face criminal prosecution for their lapses
The Star
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Top cop fired over 2019 Easter Sunday bombings
THE country's independent regulator has sacked a senior police officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. The National Police Commission dismissed Nilantha Jayawardena, then head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), for disregarding prior warnings of an impending attack by Islamic extremists. Court records show that Jayawardena had been alerted to a possible terror strike 17 days before the coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019, which targeted three hotels and three churches. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings. Jayawardena had been found guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty by a disciplinary inquiry led by a retired judge, the police commission said late Saturday. 'Considering the gravity of the charges, the Commission decided to give him the maximum punishment,' the statement said. Following the Easter bombings, Sri Lanka's worst terror attack on civilians, Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief but elevated to the role of deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending a disciplinary hearing, after repeated judicial orders to take action against him. A top-level investigation initiated shortly after the attack found that then-president Maithripala Sirisena and four of his senior officials, including Jayawardena, should face criminal prosecution for their lapses. In accordance with Supreme Court orders issued in January 2023 following a civil case, they have paid just over US$1mil in damages to the victims. The 2019 bombings were blamed on a local group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Sri Lanka's new government, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has vowed to step up investigations into the Easter attacks and uncover those responsible for the bombings. — AFP
The Star
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sri Lanka sacks senior cop over 2019 Easter Sunday bombings
Senior Deputy Inspector-General Nilantha Jayawardena. - File pic COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's independent regulator has sacked a senior police officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. The National Police Commission dismissed Senior Deputy Inspector-General Nilantha Jayawardena, then head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), for disregarding prior warnings of an impending attack by Islamic extremists. Court records show that Jayawardena had been alerted to a possible terror strike 17 days before the coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019, which targeted three hotels and three churches. More than 500 people were also wounded in the bombings. Jayawardena had been found guilty on all seven counts of negligence and dereliction of duty by a disciplinary inquiry led by a retired judge, the police commission said in a statement late on Saturday (July 19). 'Considering the gravity of the charges, the commission decided to give him the maximum punishment,' the statement said. Men carrying portraits of victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings as they mark the sixth anniversary of the attacks in Colombo on April 21. - Photo: AFP Following the Easter bombings, Sri Lanka's worst terror attack on civilians, Jayawardena was removed from his position as SIS chief but was elevated to the role of deputy head of the police force, overseeing administration. However, he was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending a disciplinary hearing, after repeated judicial orders to take action against him. A top-level investigation initiated shortly after the attack found that then President Maithripala Sirisena and four of his senior officials, including Jayawardena, should face criminal prosecution for their lapses. In accordance with Supreme Court orders issued in January 2023 following a civil case, they have paid just over one million dollars in damages to the victims. The 2019 bombings were blamed on a local extremist group that pledged allegiance to ISIS. Sri Lanka's new government, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has vowed to step up investigations into the Easter attacks and uncover those responsible for the bombings. - AFP
