Pujith Jayasundara death sentence proceedings heard his emotional plea over the Easter attacks verdict, his family and alleged unfair treatment.
The Pujith Jayasundara death sentence hearing included an emotional appeal from the former Police Chief, who told the court he had never intentionally caused anyone’s death.
Before imposing the sentence yesterday, the court asked Jayasundara whether he had any reasons why it should not order the death penalty.
The court had convicted him of criminal dereliction of duty over his failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings despite receiving prior intelligence.
Addressing the court, Jayasundara said: “I did not intentionally commit any murder.”
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Pujith Jayasundara death sentence plea
The former Police Chief then described his years of service and claimed that authorities had treated him unfairly from the beginning of the investigation.
“From the day I joined the police force, I served the police to the best of my ability,” he said.
“I feel that from the very beginning of this incident, starting from the Wijith Malulgoda Committee, I have been treated unfairly. I worked alongside a group of other officers. Other officials who had responsibilities similar to mine have been acquitted in this matter.”
Jayasundara said he had lost his job and suffered because of fundamental rights petitions and civil cases filed against him.
“I have lost my job, and my fundamental rights have been violated in an extraordinary manner, causing me immense suffering,” he told the court.
“From the day of the incident until now, due to the fundamental rights petitions and civil cases filed against me, I have been subjected to severe distress.”
He also asked the court to consider the effect of the proceedings on his family.
“I humbly request that you consider with compassion the helpless situation my wife and two children have been placed in,” he said.
Former Police Chief speaks of faith and hardship
Jayasundara maintained that he had never deliberately acted in a way that caused harm or injustice during his police career.
“From the day I joined the police force, I have never acted in a manner that would cause harm or injustice to anyone,” he said.
“According to the religion I follow, I believe this is the result of a past deed. I am in a state of deep helplessness.”
He urged the judges to consider the pressure and hardships he had faced since the Easter Sunday attacks.
“Please consider all the pressure and hardships I have endured from the day of this incident until today when imposing my sentence,” Jayasundara said.
“Please consider whether it is fair to treat me alone in this manner when I served as the Police Chief of the country.”
“With great humility, I make this request. That is all I have to say.”
His appeal came immediately before the court imposed the Pujith Jayasundara death sentence over the failure to act on intelligence before the Easter Sunday attacks.
