The Colombo Special Three‑Judge High Court will deliver its verdict tomorrow (22) in the main trial relating to the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, one of Sri Lanka’s most devastating tragedies.
The judgment will be pronounced before the bench comprising Navaratne Marasinghe, Sujeewa Nishshanka, and Ramanadan Kannan.
The Attorney General filed 23,270 charges against 24 accused, including Naufer Maulavi, for aiding, abetting, and conspiring with Zahran Hashim and seven other suicide bombers. The charges include terrorism, conspiracy, and direct involvement in the coordinated bombings.
During the trial, the court accepted 10 confessions as evidence and marked 2,076 productions, ranging from hidden bomb‑making materials, chemicals, and firearms to swords and explosives.
The Easter Sunday attacks killed 274 people, including about 40 foreign tourists and 35 children, while 577 others were injured.
Originally, charges were filed against 25 accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, but the indictment was amended after the 17th accused died in prison custody, reducing the number of defendants to 24.
The attacks on April 21, 2019 targeted St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Zion Church in Batticaloa, three Colombo hotels including Shangri‑La, and the Tropical Inn restaurant.
Investigations were carried out by the CID, TID, and several police stations nationwide, leading to the Attorney General’s request in August 2021 for a Special High Court. Then Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya appointed Judges Damith Thotawatta, Amal Ranaraja, and Navaratne Marasinghe to preside.
The indictment, exceeding 5,000 pages in Sinhala, was served between October–November 2021, later translated into Tamil and English in March 2022.
Following amendments in February 2023, the accused pleaded not guilty, prompting the trial to proceed.
Defense requests for bail were rejected, with the accused ordered to remain in remand custody until conclusion.
Although each accused faced around 930 charges, the bench ruled under Section 420 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 that admissions relating to the deaths and injuries would stand without calling witnesses for those charges.
Out of nearly 3,000 witnesses, evidence from 547 was heard, alongside 2,077 documents, including DNA reports, Government Analyst findings, and Judicial Medical Officer reports.
The prosecution’s evidence examination began on October 10, 2022 and concluded on August 13, 2026, spanning two and a half years and about 250 trial days. (Newswire)
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