APD | Sri Lanka’s Police chief and former Defence Secretary arrested

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, July 2 (APD) – Sri Lanka’s Police chief and former Defence Secretary were arrested on Tuesday over the April 21 suicide bombings in the country.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara was arrested at the Police hospital by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

He was issued notice to appear before the CID to record a statement over the Easter Sunday attacks.

However he fell ill and was admitted to the Police Hospital.

CID officers visited the hospital and questioned him and later arrested him.

Jayasundara had been sent on compulsory leave after the Easter Sunday attacks.

Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department at the Colombo National Hospital.

Fernando was admitted to the Intensive-Care Unit (ICU) of the Cardiology Unit at the Colombo National Hospital on Tuesday.

Fernando, who was Defence Secretary during the April attacks, was also ordered to appear before the CID to record a statement but instead he got himself admitted in hospital.

Jayasundara and former Fernando have been named as suspects in the Easter Sunday attacks.

Attorney General Dappula De Livera had earlier directed Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne to produce Jayasundara and Fernando in court over criminal negligence related to the Easter Sunday attacks.

Jayasundara and Fernando had reportedly received intelligence reports of the April attacks but had not acted on it.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)