The Colombo High Court today (26) ordered that the case filed by the Attorney General against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara be taken up again on March 23.
The case was filed on charges including criminal negligence and dereliction of duty for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Previously, the case was heard before a three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court. However, as a new three-judge bench had not been appointed to hear the matter, the Registrar of the High Court announced that the case would be recalled on March 23.
Earlier, a three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court had acquitted and discharged Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundara without calling for the defence evidence.
The Attorney General subsequently filed an appeal against that decision. Upon hearing the appeal, the Supreme Court set aside the acquittal and ordered that the case be taken up again. The Supreme Court directed the relevant three-judge High Court bench to hear the defence evidence and deliver a fresh verdict thereafter.
