August 24, Colombo (LNW): The long-running legal proceedings against 25 individuals accused of involvement in the planning and support of Sri Lanka’s 2019 Easter Sunday bombings are approaching a decisive stage, with the Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar set to deliver its verdict on September 22.
The date was fixed by the three-judge High Court panel overseeing the case, bringing the extensive trial towards its conclusion after years of investigations and court proceedings.
The accused face a sweeping indictment comprising 23,270 charges. The allegations include conspiracy, assisting and facilitating the attacks, possession and collection of weapons and ammunition, and attempted murder under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Prosecutors allege that several of the defendants maintained connections with the extremist network responsible for the coordinated attacks. Among those facing charges is Naufer Moulavi, who has been identified in the case as one of the individuals allegedly linked to the extremist group.
The Easter Sunday attacks, carried out on 21 April 2019, involved a series of suicide bombings at churches and luxury hotels in different parts of the country. More than 270 people were killed, including foreign visitors, while hundreds of others suffered injuries in the worst terrorist violence Sri Lanka had experienced in decades.
The attacks triggered a broad national investigation into how the plot was organised and whether security and intelligence agencies had failed to act on warnings received beforehand. A Presidential Commission of Inquiry and a Parliamentary Select Committee subsequently examined different aspects of the tragedy.
Following those investigations, the Attorney General brought indictments against the 25 suspects and requested that the case be heard before a special Trial-at-Bar. The proceedings were subsequently assigned to a three-member Colombo High Court bench, which has heard evidence and arguments relating to the extensive list of allegations.
The forthcoming ruling is expected to mark a significant point in the country’s efforts to establish legal accountability for the Easter Sunday attacks. The court is scheduled to announce its decision on September 22.
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