Demand for Criminal Prosecution of Sacked Intelligence Chief
Church Spokesman Welcomes Dismissal
Cyril Gamini Fernando said the Church welcomed the recent dismissal of Nilantha Jayawardena, former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS).
Jayawardena was sacked after the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners.
He was the second most senior police officer, on track to become the next inspector‑general before his removal.
Evidence Points to Cover‑Up
Court proceedings and inquiry commissions revealed that the SIS, under Jayawardena, attempted to cover up jihadist activities leading up to the attacks.
Six years on, the Church still seeks answers and wants to know the true perpetrators behind the bombing spree.
Link Between Intelligence Units and Jihadists
Both military and police intelligence units were closely linked to the home‑grown jihadists.
Some intelligence units were even on the payroll of the SIS.
Jayawardena ignored a series of alerts, including a warning from an Indian intelligence agency that arrived 17 days before the bombings.
Political Context and Allegations
The ruling party, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, accused former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of orchestrating the attacks to win the 2019 presidential election.
The Rajapaksa family has denied the allegations, maintaining their denial.
Disciplinary Inquiry and Current Status
Jayawardena was removed from the SIS chief position in December 2019 but later promoted to deputy head of the police force.
He was placed on compulsory leave a year ago, pending the disciplinary inquiry, following repeated judicial orders to take action against him.
Impact of the Bombings
More than 500 people were wounded in the bombings, marking Sri Lanka’s worst jihadist attack on civilians.
The attacks occurred despite a warning from an intelligence agency in neighboring India.
