By Chitra Weerarathne

The Inspector General of Police, who was in office in April 2019, upon receiving Indian Intelligence reports, had passed over the unverified information to the Senior DIG of the Western Province and four other DIGs of the province, Counsel Viran Corea told the Supreme Court yesterday. He appeared for the retired IGP Pujith Jayasundara a respondent in the petitions filed on behalf of victims of the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks of 21 April 2019.

The then IGP had told his junior officers not to frighten the general public. He had also held the view that the tourist industry should not be affected by that information which was unconfirmed.

The then IGP instructed his officers to investigate the issue. The information he had received was that the Catholic Churches were likely to be attacked by Islamic extremists. However, no mention had been made of the Kochchikade Church of Colombo 12 and the Katuwapitiya Church in Negombo, the Counsel explained.

Counsel Corea stressed that it was not a question of negligence on the part of Jayasundera.

Solicitor General Priyantha Narvana, President’s Counsel and Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris appeared for the Attorney General.

Faizer Mustapha PC, appearing for retired President Maithripala Sirisena, also made a respondent in the petition.

The seven- judge Supreme Court Bench hearing the petitions comprises Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, Justice Murdhu Fernando, Justice S. Thurarajah, Justice A. H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice A.L. Shiran Gooneratne.