Easter Attacks Verdict
Sri Lanka court to deliver verdict on 2019 Easter Sunday attacks tomorrow
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The verdict will be delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Navaratne Marasinghe, Sujeewa Nissanka and Ramanathan Kannan.
2
The prosecution and defence had both concluded presenting evidence on August 24, following the trial’s daily hearings.
3
The indictment originally covered 25 defendants under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act, but the number was reduced to 24 after the 17th accused died in prison custody.
4
The April 21, 2019 bombings specifically targeted St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Zion Church in Batticaloa, three Colombo hotels including the Shangri-La, and the Tropical Inn restaurant.
5
The indictment exceeded 5,000 pages in Sinhala and was served between October and November 2021; Tamil and English translations were later provided on March 3, 2022 following requests from defence lawyers.
Sri Lanka's three-judge court will announce verdicts tomorrow in the main trial over the April 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed roughly 270 people. WNYC reports that 15 men have already been convicted of involvement in the Islamic State-inspired attacks. The verdict covers 24 defendants facing more than 23,270 charges of conspiracy and aiding eight suicide bombers, marking the end of a massive trial that heard testimony from 2,309 witnesses.
The bombings targeted churches, hotels and a restaurant in a coordinated attack that shocked the nation. Times of India noted the attacks wounded about 500 people. The trial, which lasted nearly three years under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act, examined bomb-making materials and explosive evidence to build its case against the accused men.
Coordinated Bombings Hit Churches and Hotels
On April 21, 2019, suicide bombers struck churches and hotels across Sri Lanka in a single day of terror. Houston Public Media reports the attacks killed more than 260 people and wounded about 500. The bombers targeted St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Zion Church in Batticaloa, three Colombo hotels including the Shangri-La, and the Tropical Inn restaurant. Many victims were foreign tourists and children. The attacks marked one of the deadliest terror incidents in recent history.
Massive Investigation Gathered Mountain of Evidence
The trial examined 2,309 prosecution witnesses and accepted 10 confessions as evidence. Judges marked more than 2,000 physical exhibits—explosives, weapons and bomb-making materials—to prove the defendants' roles. The indictment itself exceeded 5,000 pages in Sinhala, with Tamil and English translations provided in March 2022. The prosecution and defence completed their evidence presentations on August 24, setting the stage for tomorrow's verdict.
24 Defendants Face Conspiracy and Terror Charges
The accused men, led by Naufer Maulavi and others who aided suicide bombers led by Zahran Hashim, face charges under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act. Originally 25 defendants were indicted, but one died in prison custody, reducing the number to 24. The three-judge bench comprises Navaratne Marasinghe, Sujeewa Nissanka and Ramanathan Kannan. 7News reported that 15 men have already been convicted of involvement in the Easter attacks.
The Attorney General's Department has also indicated plans to obtain statements from about 10 opposition lawmakers regarding parliamentary allegations. These lawmakers may provide testimony about possible involvement by former State Intelligence Service Director Major General Suresh Sallay in the attacks or the intelligence failures that preceded them.
Three-Year Trial Reaches Climax Tomorrow
After nearly three years of daily hearings, the Colombo Special Trial-at-Bar will deliver its verdict on September 22. The court's final decision will determine whether the 24 defendants are guilty of the more than 23,270 charges. Richmond News reported the High Court has already convicted 15 men. The verdict represents a major milestone for Sri Lanka's justice system in holding perpetrators accountable for one of the nation's deadliest terror attacks.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
48
Articles
358
Reach
406
A
AnonymousAuthor
