The ex-police chief of Sri Lanka has been given a death sentence for his involvement in the Easter attacks.

In a landmark decision, a three-judge High Court panel in Sri Lanka has handed down a death sentence to former Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara. The majority of judges found him guilty of neglecting his duty to prevent the devastating Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019, despite receiving prior intelligence. The court, presided by Judges Priyantha Liyanage and Thilakaratne Bandara, delivered the majority verdict while Judge Viraj Weerasuriya issued a dissenting judgment, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Judge Liyanage, in announcing the decision, highlighted that Jayasundara was the country's police chief at the time and therefore responsible for safeguarding citizens and maintaining public security. According to the court, Nilantha Jayawardena, the then director of the State Intelligence Service, had informed Jayasundara on the evening of April 20, 2019, about intelligence of impending suicide attacks on Catholic churches and tourist hotels the following day. However, Jayasundara failed to take any preventive measures, which ultimately led to the tragic loss of over 260 lives and injuries to more than 500 people.

The majority judges held Jayasundara accountable for neglecting his duties as a state official responsible for preventing crime and protecting the public. Taking into consideration the gravity of the offences, they imposed the death sentence on him. However, in a dissenting judgment, Judge Weerasuriya stated that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against Jayasundara beyond a reasonable doubt and thus, acquitted him.

The court took more than four hours to deliver the verdict, which was met with shock and relief by different sections of the society. Later that same day, the court also found former Defence Secretary, Hemasiri Fernando, guilty of failing to act on intelligence warnings prior to the 2019 terror attacks, and sentenced him to death as well. The coordinated bombings, which occurred on April 21, 2019, claimed the lives of over 260 innocent people, leaving more than 500 others injured, as stated in the judgment.

This landmark verdict serves as a reminder to all government officials of their duty to protect the public and prevent such heinous crimes from occurring. It also highlights the need for swift and effective action in the face of critical intelligence. The court's decision sends a strong message that negligence and dereliction of duty will not be tolerated when it comes to the safety and security of citizens.

This verdict will go down in history as a defining moment in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka. In a separate development, Odisha's leading English daily, Orissa POST, has once again been recognized as the No.1 daily in the state. This is a testament to the dedicated team of journalists and staff who work tirelessly to provide accurate and timely news to the people of Odisha.

Congratulations to the entire team for this well-deserved achievement.