Court postpones hearing against former SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena to 12 June

The Court of Appeal on Thursday (27) postponed the hearing of the case against former Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Nilantha Jayawardena to 12 June. The case was deferred due to the absence of the Deputy Solicitor General representing the Attorney General, who is currently overseas, and because certain objections filed by the Attorney General’s Department had not yet been received by the court.

The petition, filed by Father Rohan Silva, Executive Director of the Centre for Society and Peace, and Suraj Nilang, the father of a victim of the Easter Sunday attacks, seeks a court order directing the authorities to take legal action against Jayawardena under criminal law. The petitioners allege that he failed to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings despite receiving prior intelligence warnings.

The case was taken up before a bench comprising Justices Mayadunne Corea and Mahen Gopallawa.

The petitioners argued that they had submitted evidence to the Police Headquarters establishing Jayawardena’s criminal liability for failing to act on intelligence reports. They further stated that the Inspector General of Police had failed to take appropriate legal measures based on their complaint. Accordingly, they requested the court to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General to proceed with criminal action against Jayawardena.

Additionally, they sought a court order directing the authorities to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Jayawardena, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the fundamental rights cases related to the Easter Sunday attacks.

Attorney-at-Law Ermiza Teagle appeared for the petitioners, supported by a legal team comprising Linuri Munasinghe and Tahira Lafar, under the guidance of Attorney-at-Law Manushika Cooray. President’s Counsel Chandaka Jayasundara appeared on behalf of Nilantha Jayawardena.