In a dramatic courtroom moment that drew widespread public attention, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara addressed the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar before receiving their verdicts. Both men, who faced charges linked to the catastrophic 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed over 260 people, used their final opportunity to speak directly to the court — and, in many ways, to history itself. Their words were measured, emotional, and deeply revealing of how each man views his role in one of Sri Lanka's darkest chapters.
The Weight of History in the Courtroom
Hemasiri Fernando, who served as Defence Secretary at the time of the April 21, 2019 attacks, delivered what many observers described as a composed and dignified final address. Speaking before the three-judge bench, Fernando reportedly declared that history would one day acquit him — a statement that resonated far beyond the walls of the courtroom. His words echoed the sentiments of individuals throughout history who have stood before courts believing that the full truth of their actions would only be understood with the passage of time.
Fernando maintained that he had acted in accordance with the information and authority available to him at the time. His defense throughout the trial centered on the argument that critical intelligence warnings were not adequately communicated to him in a manner that would have allowed decisive preventive action. He insisted that responsibility for the intelligence failures was far more complex and widely distributed than the charges against him suggested.
Pujith Jayasundara's Address to the Bench
Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who headed Sri Lanka's police force during the Easter Sunday attacks, also addressed the court in what was an equally significant moment. Jayasundara had been at the center of controversy since the bombings, with investigations revealing that intelligence warnings about potential attacks had been received by senior officials — including the police chief — days before the tragedy unfolded.
Jayasundara's statement to the court reflected a similar tone of personal vindication. He emphasized his years of dedicated public service and argued that the charges leveled against him failed to account for the systemic failures within the country's security and intelligence apparatus. Like Fernando, he appeared to appeal not only to the judges seated before him but to the broader court of public opinion and the judgment of future generations.
Both men had previously been embroiled in a separate and deeply controversial episode when they were detained and then released under unusual circumstances in the immediate aftermath of the bombings, a situation that itself became a subject of significant political and legal debate in Sri Lanka.
The Easter Sunday Bombings: A National Tragedy
To fully understand the gravity of these proceedings, one must revisit the events of April 21, 2019. Coordinated suicide bomb attacks struck three churches and three luxury hotels across Sri Lanka during Easter Sunday morning services and breakfast hours. The attacks, carried out by local Islamist extremist group National Thowheed Jamath with alleged links to the Islamic State, resulted in the deaths of more than 260 people and injured hundreds more. The victims included Sri Lankan nationals and foreign tourists from multiple countries.
The attacks sent shockwaves through the nation and the international community. In the weeks that followed, it emerged that Sri Lankan intelligence agencies had received specific warnings about potential attacks from foreign intelligence services. The fact that these warnings did not translate into preventive action became the central question of accountability that the Trial-at-Bar was ultimately convened to address.
A Trial That Defined an Era of Accountability
The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, a special judicial mechanism reserved for cases of exceptional public importance, has been hearing evidence and arguments in this case for an extended period. The proceedings have been closely watched by victims' families, civil society organizations, foreign governments, and legal experts alike. For the families of those killed and injured in the attacks, the trial represented a long-awaited pursuit of justice and answers.
The final statements by Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundara mark a significant milestone in those proceedings. Regardless of the ultimate legal outcome, their words have added another layer to the ongoing national conversation about accountability, institutional responsibility, and the failures that allowed the Easter Sunday attacks to occur.
What Comes Next
As Sri Lanka awaits the court's final determination, the statements made by both former officials will undoubtedly be analyzed and debated for years to come. Whether history ultimately acquits them, as Fernando boldly proclaimed, remains to be seen. What is certain is that the Easter Sunday bombings and the accountability process that followed have permanently altered Sri Lanka's political and security landscape. For the hundreds of families still grieving, no courtroom statement can fully address their loss — but the pursuit of truth and justice remains an essential part of the nation's healing.