Gotabaya Rajapaksa Should Prepare for Legal Action Next, Says Sameera Perera

03-Aug-2026

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Leader of the Sri Lanka Labour People's Front Sameera Perera has asserted that no individual involved in the conspiracy behind the Easter Sunday attacks will escape the law, adding that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should prepare to face legal proceedings.

Addressing a special media briefing in Colombo, Perera said impartial legal action must be taken against every individual connected with the Easter Sunday attacks. Former government officials, senior military and police officers, and political leaders who allegedly neglected their duties or aided the conspiracy must all be held accountable, he said.

According to Perera, a series of arrests and legal proceedings commenced the previous night, and at least five more individuals are expected to face similar action. He claimed that the punishment of those responsible has become inevitable.

He maintained that no one, including former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, former State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena, intelligence official Suresh Sallay, Deshabandu Tennakoon and Azad Maulana, would be able to evade legal accountability.

Perera said last week's court verdict had clearly demonstrated the maximum legal consequences for public officials who fail in their duties or knowingly or unknowingly facilitate a criminal conspiracy. He welcomed the judgment.

He further alleged that the Easter Sunday attacks were the outcome of a political and military conspiracy. After assuming office, Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Suresh Sallay, whom he described as one of the principal suspects, as head of the State Intelligence Service and placed all intelligence agencies under his authority. This, he claimed, enabled the destruction of evidence and the victimisation of honest investigators, including Shani Abeysekara.

Perera also alleged that attempts had been made to portray key suspect Sarah Jasmine as deceased through pressure exerted by Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Suresh Sallay. He further claimed that the previous administration prevented former State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena from appearing before the Parliamentary Select Committee in order to conceal advance intelligence received from foreign agencies.

He concluded that all political and military masterminds behind the attacks would eventually face justice and urged the present Government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, to pursue strict legal action without yielding to any external pressures.