LEN - www.lankaenews.com | Two Names Missing From the Indictment: Why Were Senior DIGs Deshabandu Tennakoon and Lalith Pathinayake Never Charged Over Easter Sunday? Chain of Command and Intelligence Dissemination

Two Names Missing From the Indictment: Why Were Senior DIGs Deshabandu Tennakoon and Lalith Pathinayake Never Charged Over Easter Sunday? Chain of Command and Intelligence Dissemination

By Ruwan Weerakoon

(Lanka-e-News -2026. August 01, 3.30 AM) Before the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings in Sri Lanka, the State Intelligence Service (SIS) notified the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Pujith Jayasundera, regarding an imminent terror threat targeting Catholic churches.

Upon receiving the report, former IGP Jayasundera summoned the then-Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) for the Western Province, Nandana Munasinghe, to brief him on the threat. In turn, SDIG Munasinghe convened an urgent meeting with three key officials under his command:

DIG Lalith Pathinayake (Colombo North / Western Province)

DIG Wasantha Wickramasinghe (Colombo South)

DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon (Colombo / Western Province)

SDIG Munasinghe provided a detailed briefing using intelligence reports containing photographs of the suspected suicide bombers. He issued explicit, actionable orders requiring:

Maximum Security Deployment: Mandatory body checks of churchgoers and thorough vehicle inspections.

Perimeter Controls: Parking restricted to a safe distance from church premises.

Covert Operations: Deployment of armed, plainclothes police officers both inside and outside church grounds.

Lapses in Duty and Failure of Implementation

Subsequent investigations and testimony presented before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday Attacks revealed significant lapses in carrying out SDIG Munasinghe’s security plan:

1. DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon (Colombo / Kochchikade & Katuwapitiya Areas)

Failure to Command: DIG Tennakoon allegedly failed to brief his Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) or execute the directive; the official security orders reportedly remained untouched on desk files.

Absence During Crisis: On the day of the attack, while police forces were on high alert, DIG Tennakoon’s official mobile phone was switched off. Reports indicate he was vacationing with his family at the Malu Malu Resort in Pasikudah (or Arugam Bay). Switching off an official communications device during a national emergency constitutes a severe breach of police discipline and duty.

Impact: The failure to implement security measures at locations such as St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya and St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade left worshippers entirely unprotected, directly contributing to catastrophic casualties and loss of life.

2. DIG Lalith Pathinayake (Colombo North)

Failure to Execute Orders: DIG Pathinayake similarly failed to enforce SDIG Munasinghe’s security orders. No additional personnel, body checks, or perimeter security measures were assigned to critical places of worship, including St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kotahena.

3. Contrast: DIG Wasantha Wickramasinghe (Colombo South)

Compliance and Prevention: In contrast, DIG Wasantha Wickramasinghe strictly carried out SDIG Munasinghe’s instructions by deploying personnel and searching suspects, which effectively mitigated threats within his division (such as the Dehiwala area).

Promotions vs. Professional Demotions

Despite the findings of the Presidential Commission highlighting these derelictions of duty:

Promotions Given: Both DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and DIG Lalith Pathinayake were later promoted to the rank of Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG). Subsequently, Deshabandu Tennakoon was appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) during the administration of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, an appointment reportedly backed by key political figures including Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, Sagara Kariyawasam, and Wajira Abeywardena.

Overlooked Service: Conversely, DIG Wasantha Wickramasinghe, who complied with orders and effectively managed security in his division, was bypassed for prompt promotion to Senior DIG.

Critical Legal Questions for the Hon Attorney General

Instructions to the CID: Has the Attorney General’s Department directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to initiate a formal criminal investigation into the specific acts of negligence by then-DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and DIG Lalith Pathinayake?

Indictments for Criminal Negligence: Once the CID concludes its investigations, will the Attorney General frame formal charges against these officers for failure to perform official duties under the Police Ordinance and the Penal Code?

Criminal Liability for Loss of Life: Given that these documented administrative failures directly resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and permanent disability for many others, should these officers face criminal prosecution for culpable homicide or criminal negligence?