Top Sri Lankan Police Officer Fired for Failing to Prevent 2019 Easter Bombings

A senior Sri Lankan police officer, Nilantha Jayawardena, has been removed from his job for failing to stop the deadly Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. The attacks killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners, and injured over 500.

Jayawardena was the head of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service (SIS) at the time. He had received a warning 17 days before the attacks but failed to take action. A recent investigation found him guilty of negligence on all seven charges. The National Police Commission (NPC) officially fired him on July 17 after a full inquiry.

The 2019 Easter Sunday attacks were carried out by suicide bombers from a local extremist group, National Thawheed Jamaat, linked to the Islamic State (ISIS). They targeted three churches and three luxury hotels during morning services.

Jayawardena is now the most senior police officer found guilty for not doing his duty. He has also been ordered to pay 75 million Sri Lankan rupees (around \$250,000) as compensation to the victims' families.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka also convicted former President Maithripala Sirisena and other high-ranking officials in 2023 of failing to stop the assaults. Sirisena was ordered to pay 100 million rupees to the victims’ families.

After the attacks, Jayawardena was moved to another post and even promoted. However, after public pressure and court orders, he was placed on leave in 2024. The police finally removed him from service this week.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the new president of the country, has promised to carry out the investigations and make sure that those responsible for the attacks face consequences. The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has also asked for international assistance in the investigation, stating that justice has not been served.