Global News

Sri Lanka’s former most senior defense official on Monday became the latest government figure to face possible criminal charges over “major lapses” linked to the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 258 people.

Hemasiri Fernando, who was Secretary to the Ministry of Defence before the April 21 bombing of three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka, should be investigated for his failure to prevent or minimize the attacks, Attorney General Dappula de Livera said.

The attorney general said in a letter to Sri Lanka’s acting police chief that a presidential commission of inquiry had found “major lapses” by Fernando, who has since resigned from his top job.

While Fernando is the most senior defense official to face action, President Maithripala Sirisena also suspended police chief Pujith Jayasundara after he refused to step down over the handling of the attacks.

Jayasundara and Fernando have testified before a parliamentary inquiry and accused Sirisena of failing to follow established protocols in assessing threats to national security.

Last week, the attorney general ordered investigations against nine police officers for failing to act on warnings ahead of the bombings, claimed by Islamic State.

All nine were senior officers in the districts where the attacks were carried out and have now been transferred from their posts pending disciplinary action and criminal investigations.

Authorities have admitted that warnings sent by India of an impending attack by a local group, the National Thowheeth Jama’ath, were ignored.

Sri Lanka ex-defense secretary faces charges over security ‘lapses’ before Easter attacks