--- title: "Sri Lanka sentences two ex-security officials to death over 2019 bombings" description: "Most outlets reported the sentencing of two former Sri Lankan security officials to death for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. One outlet led with the court’s decision and noted it was a majority ruling by a three-judge panel. Another outlet emphasized the officials’ intention to appeal the death penalty, as stated by their lawyer." url: https://harzaviya.com/stories/1188-sri-lanka-sentences-two-ex-security-officials-to-death-over site: HarZaviya language: en --- # Sri Lanka sentences two ex-security officials to death over 2019 bombings world · latest filing 1 Aug 2026, 3:20 PM PKT · 31 Jul – 1 Aug 2026 · 6 articles from 5 outlets over 2 developments ## How it developed Newest development first. Each carries its own coverage and, where we have one, our summary of it. ### 1 Aug 2026 — Sri Lanka sentences two ex-security officials to death over 2019 bombings (2 outlets) > Most outlets reported the sentencing of two former Sri Lankan security officials to death for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. One outlet led with the court’s decision and noted it was a majority ruling by a three-judge panel. Another outlet emphasized the officials’ intention to appeal the death penalty, as stated by their lawyer. - **24 News HD** — [Ex-security chiefs to appeal against death penalty over Sri Lanka bombings](https://www.24newshd.tv/01-Aug-2026/ex-security-chiefs-appeal-death-penalty-sri-lanka-bombings) · 1 Aug 2026, 3:20 PM PKT > Two top former Sri Lankan security officials sentenced to death for failing to prevent the deadly 2019 Easter bombings will appeal against their convictions, their lawyer said on Saturday. - **Dawn** — [Sri Lanka sentences 2 ex-security officials to death](https://www.dawn.com/news/2019850/sri-lanka-sentences-2-ex-security-officials-to-death) · 1 Aug 2026, 8:19 AM PKT · 78% identical wording to the newest filing > COLOMBO: A Sri Lanka court sentenced two ex-security officials to death on Friday for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. In a majority decision, a three-judge bench ruled that former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defence ministry secretary Hemasiri Fernando failed in their duties to stop the deadly attacks, blamed on... ### 31 Jul 2026 — Sri Lanka sentences two ex-security officials to death over 2019 Easter bombings (4 outlets) > Most outlets reported that a Sri Lankan court sentenced two former security officials to death for their role in failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Arab News Pakistan and Daily Times named Pujith Jayasundara, the ex-police chief, while Business Recorder and 24 News HD identified Hemasiri Fernando, the former defense official. 24 News HD and Daily Times mentioned the death toll, with 279 and 260 respectively, while other outlets did not specify the number of victims. All excerpts framed the attacks as Islamic State-inspired or Daesh-inspired. - **Daily Times** — [Two ex-Sri Lanka officials sentenced to death for negligence in Easter bombings](https://dailytimes.com.pk/1531587/two-ex-sri-lanka-officials-sentenced-to-death-for-negligence-in-easter-bombings/) · 1 Aug 2026, 2:49 AM PKT > A Sri Lankan court on Friday sentenced a former police chief and a former top Defense Ministry official to death after finding them guilty of criminal negligence that allowed Islamic State-inspired bomb attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019, which killed more than 260 people. A death penalty in Sri Lanka typically means life in prison […] - **24 News HD** — [Sri Lanka sentences two ex-security officials to death over 2019 Easter bombings](https://www.24newshd.tv/31-Jul-2026/sri-lanka-sentences-two-ex-security-officials-death-2019-easter-bombings) · 31 Jul 2026, 8:58 PM PKT · 89% identical wording to the newest filing > A Sri Lanka court sentenced two ex-security officials to death on Friday for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. - **Business Recorder** — [Sri Lanka court sentences ex-defence official to death over 2019 bombings](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40432762/sri-lanka-court-sentences-ex-defence-official-to-death-over-2019-bombings) · 31 Jul 2026, 8:40 PM PKT · 83% identical wording to the newest filing > COLOMBO: A Sri Lanka court sentenced the former defence ministry secretary to death over the 2019 Easter bombings, shortly after handing down the same punishment to the ex-police chief. Hemasiri Fernando, 76, was convicted of negligence leading to the death of 279 people – including 45 foreigners – an identical charge given to then-police chief Pujith Jayasundara, 66. - **Arab News Pakistan** — [Sri Lanka’s ex-police chief sentenced to death over Easter bombings that killed 260](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2652935/world) · 31 Jul 2026, 8:07 AM PKT · 86% identical wording to the newest filing > COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: A Sri Lankan court on Friday sentenced former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to death after finding him guilty of criminal negligence that allowed Daesh-inspired bomb attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019, killing more than 260 people. A death penalty in Sri Lanka typically means life in prison because the country has had an informal moratorium on executions since 1976. Current ... 6 articles from 5 outlets, 31 Jul – 1 Aug 2026. 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