Sri Lanka’s National Police Commission has dismissed former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Senior Deputy Inspector General Nilantha Jayawardena following a disciplinary inquiry into his conduct prior to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, officials said Saturday.
Jayawardena, who headed the SIS at the time of the attacks, was found to have failed to act on key intelligence warnings about the planned suicide bombings that killed more than 260 people and injured hundreds at churches and hotels across the country.
“The decision to remove Senior DIG Jayawardena from service was made based on the findings of a formal disciplinary inquiry,” a spokesperson for the National Police Commission said.
The dismissal follows years of public pressure and repeated calls for accountability from victims’ families, religious leaders, and opposition lawmakers. A presidential commission of inquiry had earlier recommended criminal action and disciplinary measures against several officials, including Jayawardena, citing serious lapses in intelligence sharing and response.
Jayawardena was placed on compulsory leave in 2024 after the Supreme Court criticized the police commission for failing to act on the matter. He later responded to a charge sheet issued against him, leading to the inquiry.
It remains unclear whether criminal charges will follow. The Attorney General’s Department has previously indicated that a criminal investigation into Jayawardena’s role is still under review.
The 2019 Easter bombings, carried out by local Islamist extremists linked to the Islamic State group, remain one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka’s history.
