The Attorney General today (18) informed the Colombo High Court that a request has been submitted to the Chief Justice to appoint a new three-judge High Court bench to hear the case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara.
The two former officials are accused of criminal negligence and dereliction of duty by failing to take preventive measures despite receiving intelligence reports ahead of the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019.
When the case was called before High Court Judge Mohammed Irshadeen today, it was revealed that two positions in the previously appointed three-judge bench had become vacant.
Appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that a written request has been submitted to the Chief Justice seeking the appointment of a new three-judge bench to hear the case. He further stated that a positive response is expected and requested that the case be fixed for a later date.
Recording the submission, the judge ordered that the case be taken up again on October 23.
Previously, a three-judge High Court bench acquitted Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundara of the charges. However, the Attorney General subsequently appealed the decision before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court later ruled that the acquittal without summoning the indictment was flawed and directed that the case be reheard by a three-judge High Court bench, with a fresh judgment to be delivered after summoning the indictment. Accordingly, the case has now been recalled before the Colombo High Court.
