Police chief faces crimes against humanity charge over Sri Lanka attacks

Sri Lanka's police chief and a top defense official should be tried for "grave crimes against humanity" over failure to prevent Easter bombings that killed 258, the state prosecutor says.

Dappula de Livera said Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando failed to act on advance warnings of the deadly April 21 attacks.

"The two officials should be brought before a magistrate for their criminal negligence to prevent the April 21 attacks," de Livera said in a letter to the acting police chief.

"Their negligence amounts to what is known under international law to be grave crimes against humanity."

There was sufficient evidence to prosecute both officials for murder which carries the death penalty, de Livera said.

For lesser charges of negligence leading to damage of property, they could face up to 52 years in prison.

Both should be treated as "criminal suspects", de Livera said, strongly hinting that the duo should be arrested.

He ordered acting police chief Chandana Wickramaratne to record statements from both men and produce them before a magistrate without delay.

The attorney general said a presidential commission of inquiry had found "major lapses" by Fernando, who has since resigned from his position which was directly under President Maithripala Sirisena.

While Fernando is the most senior defense official to face action, Sirisena suspended police chief Jayasundara after he refused to step down over the handling of the attacks.

Another nine senior police officers have also been named by the attorney general as suspects who should be prosecuted for their role in the security lapses.

SS