Pujith dresses Hemasiri in the jumper

Prison Media Spokesman, Commissioner of Prisons Anuruddha Gajanaike, states that no special facilities will be provided inside the prison to former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando, who were sentenced to death last Friday by the Colombo Permanent High Court at Bar after being convicted on charges of failing to prevent the Easter Sunday terrorist attack despite receiving prior intelligence information, dereliction of duty, and aiding and abetting murder.

After the verdict was announced, these two former high-ranking officials were brought to Welikada Prison and were first subjected to a medical examination. They are currently being held in special cells reserved for prisoners sentenced to death. The 'jumper' prison uniform, typically given to prisoners serving sentences, has been put on these two, and the Commissioner also confirmed that since they have been sentenced to death, they will not be assigned to prison work groups.

According to prison sources, these two will not be allowed to receive food from outside, and in accordance with existing regulations, family members will have the opportunity to visit them once a week. Even during such visits, food items cannot be provided from outside, and family members are only allowed to provide hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste. Furthermore, it is mandatory for a family member to have obtained prior registration for these visits as per prison rules.

Only during special national and religious festivals such as Christmas and New Year, with the approval of prison authorities and subject to security and legal checks, will there be an opportunity to bring sweets and food from outside.

Meanwhile, Attorney Roshan Dehiwala, representing former IGP Pujith Jayasundara who was sentenced to death, stated that steps would be taken to file an appeal before the Supreme Court on his behalf. Speaking to the media after visiting the former IGP at Welikada Prison the day before yesterday (01), he mentioned that since the relevant appeal must be filed within 28 days from the date of the death sentence, the necessary arrangements would be made expeditiously. Responding to journalists' inquiries about the former IGP's health condition, the lawyer stated that he is in good health.