Former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando told the Colombo High Court today that he became embroiled in this Easter case because he was the most senior official in the country’s security due to the departure of the President, who was also the Defense Minister and the head of the armed forces, from the country.
When the Attorney General filed a case against former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando today on charges of criminal dereliction of duty by failing to prevent a terrorist attack on Easter Sunday despite receiving intelligence information, former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando said this.
The former Defense Secretary further stated that the then Head of the State Security Division, Nilantha Jayawardena, was also aware of the relevant information and that he took steps to hide that information.
Presenting his defense, former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando further stated as follows.
He pointed out that the then President Maithripala Sirisena’s action to remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa to the post created a chaotic situation in the country and that the chaotic situation continued even after Ranil Wickremesinghe was reappointed as Prime Minister following an order made by the Supreme Court.
A panel of lawyers led by Attorney Chaminda Athukorala appeared on behalf of the defendant Hemasiri Fernando.
He was examined before a three-member High Court bench comprising Justices Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya and Thilakaratne Bandara today (30).