-By A Special Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -20.July.2025, 8.05 PM) In an extraordinary move that is likely to have far-reaching implications for Sri Lanka’s security establishment and the credibility of its law enforcement apparatus, the National Police Commission (NPC) has formally dismissed Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Nilantha Jayawardhana from service, following a damning disciplinary inquiry into his role—or more precisely, his inaction—prior to the catastrophic Easter Sunday terror attacks of April 21, 2019.
The commission, which convened on July 19 under the chairmanship of retired High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake, arrived at the unanimous decision after reviewing an internal report that concluded SDIG Jayawardhana had “abjectly failed” to act upon critical intelligence warnings received from both domestic and foreign sources, most notably India’s RAW, regarding the impending Islamist extremist attacks.
Jayawardhana, who at the time of the bombings served as the Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), was the top intelligence official tasked with coordinating national security information. According to the findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the attacks and subsequent disciplinary reviews, Jayawardhana was one of the first to be alerted of the planned suicide bombings nearly two weeks before they took place. Yet no sufficient action was taken to mobilise counter-terror operations, alert churches, or prepare the police and military for what became one of Sri Lanka’s darkest days since the end of the civil war.
Sources familiar with the NPC proceedings revealed that the disciplinary inquiry centred on “negligence of duty of the highest order,” and that there were multiple recorded instances where Jayawardhana had opportunities to escalate the threat warning to political leaders and national security apparatus, but either delayed or outright failed to act.
The dismissal revives old wounds and painful questions about institutional dysfunction and political complicity. More than 270 people—men, women, and children—were killed in the coordinated bombings targeting churches and luxury hotels in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa. In the aftermath, the spotlight turned to the intelligence agencies and their catastrophic failure to prevent the attacks.
Jayawardhana, who once boasted of an illustrious career in counterterrorism and intelligence coordination, has been accused by victims’ families, political opposition figures, and civil rights organisations of wilful dereliction of duty and even deliberate suppression of intelligence to protect powerful interests.
“The dismissal of SDIG Jayawardhana, while long overdue, is not justice—it is just the beginning,” said Peiris, a lawyer representing families of the victims. “The people of Sri Lanka deserve to know who else knew about the warnings and chose to stay silent. Intelligence doesn’t fail in a vacuum—it is suppressed by design or by fear.”
The political subtext of Jayawardhana’s removal cannot be ignored. During the run-up to the 2019 presidential election, multiple reports, including statements by former President Maithripala Sirisena and Defence Ministry insiders, suggested that Jayawardhana maintained “direct lines of communication” with Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s political operatives.
It was widely speculated that certain intelligence figures may have acted—or refrained from acting—in ways that benefitted specific political outcomes. The chaos and terror of the Easter bombings created a climate of fear, which arguably paved the way for Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election later that year on a law-and-order platform. Jayawardhana’s failure, whether political or professional, may have unwittingly or deliberately contributed to reshaping the island’s political trajectory.
In fact, leaked communications presented before the Easter Commission alleged that Jayawardhana continued to provide sensitive information to select political actors, even after the blasts, under the guise of “rebuilding public trust.” These allegations remain unproven in court but are part of an expanding catalogue of suspicions.
Critics of the government argue that Jayawardhana is being used as a convenient scapegoat to shield higher-ups, including those in the political executive and national security council. While the National Police Commission has the authority to dismiss senior police officers, it cannot initiate criminal proceedings—those fall under the purview of the Attorney General’s Department and the Department of the Police itself.
“Until we see charges filed and trials commence, we must remain sceptical,” said Dr. Shreen Saroor, a civil society activist. “This is a good first step, but unless this is followed by criminal accountability for all those who enabled or ignored intelligence, it will be just another act of political theatre.”
The timing of Jayawardhana’s dismissal—coming just months ahead of a possible general election and amidst increasing pressure from international rights groups—also raises suspicions about political calculation. Was this a genuine institutional reform or a calculated sacrifice to placate domestic and international criticism?
The dismissal of the former SIS chief has left a vacuum in one of the country’s most sensitive intelligence agencies. Acting SIS Director, DIG Tharaka Dissanayake, has been named interim head, but insiders say there is growing unease within the agency. Morale is reportedly low, and internal factionalism between loyalists of the former Rajapaksa regime and those seen as aligned with the current administration is affecting operational cohesion.
Sources close to the intelligence community say there is now a renewed push to establish an independent oversight body for intelligence gathering, including an independent inspector general for national security. The aim is to ensure that intelligence is not politically weaponised again.
The international community has not remained silent on this matter. The UN Human Rights Council, which has long called for accountability in the wake of the Easter attacks, noted the dismissal as a “welcome development,” but reiterated the need for “full judicial transparency and systemic reform.”
The Vatican too, in a subtle but pointed statement, said: “Justice for the victims of the Sri Lanka Easter Massacre is essential for the healing of wounds and the rebuilding of faith in institutions.”
Nilantha Jayawardhana’s career began with promise. Educated at a top university and trained in counterterrorism, he was once described as a rising star in national intelligence circles. His promotion to SDIG and his appointment as SIS Director were considered symbolic of a new generation of police officers who understood the balance between security and civil liberties.
But his silence—or indecision—on Easter Sunday undid it all.
With the NPC's dismissal order now in effect, Jayawardhana becomes one of the highest-ranking police officers ever to be removed from service over professional misconduct related to a national tragedy. The dismissal is permanent, and sources confirm he will not be eligible for pension or re-entry into public service.
For the victims of Easter Sunday, nothing will bring back the lives lost. For Sri Lanka, the dismissal of SDIG Jayawardhana is both a step toward accountability and a stark reminder of how fragile its institutions remain. Trust once broken—especially in intelligence and law enforcement—takes generations to rebuild.
The larger question now facing Sri Lanka is whether this dismissal is an isolated gesture or the beginning of an overdue reckoning. Will other names follow? Will political sponsors be held accountable? Or will the system simply absorb this shock and return to business as usual?
For now, one thing is clear—SDIG Nilantha Jayawardhana, once the nation’s top intelligence officer, has fallen from grace, dismissed in disgrace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions, unanswered calls, and a nation still in search of justice.
-By A Special Correspondent
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by (2025-07-20 14:38:51)
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