The Permanent Trial-at-Bar has sentenced 15 individuals convicted in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks to rigorous imprisonment terms ranging from 200 to 260 years.
The sentences were imposed by the three-member bench comprising Judges Navarathne Marasinghe, Ramanathan Kannan and Sujeewa Nissanka, following the conclusion of the trial involving 24 accused, including Mohamed Naufar Maulavi.
The 15 convicts were found guilty on charges related to conspiracy, aiding and abetting the Easter Sunday attacks, with a total of 23,270 charges having been filed in the case.
According to the sentences announced by the court, one convict was sentenced to 260 years of rigorous imprisonment, while five received 220-year sentences. Four others were sentenced to 240 years each, and the remaining five were handed 200-year prison terms.
The court also ordered the confiscation by the State of all movable and immovable property belonging to the convicted individuals.
The verdict, delivered on Tuesday afternoon, found 15 of the accused guilty and acquitted and released the remaining nine.
The convicted individuals are Mohamed Naufar Maulavi, Mohamed Shareef Adam Lebbe alias Gafoor Mama, Hayathu Mohamed Ahamed Milhan, Mohamed Ibrahim Sadik Abdullah, Mohamed Ibrahim Sahid Abdul Haq, Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Rizkan, Mohamed Mansoor Mohamed Sanasdeen, Abdul Manaf Mohamed Firdous, Mohamed Rameez Mohamed Sajith, Abdul Latheef Mohamed Shafi, Husseinul Rizwi Khalid Sameer, Mohamed Hanifa Zainul Abdeen, Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed Haris, Rasik Raza Hussen and Kachchi Mohamed Mohamed Jemsith.
Those acquitted and released are Mohamed Sawahir Mohamed Hassan, Mohamed Ifthikar Mohamed Insaf, Rasheed Mohamed Ibrahim, Zainul Abdeen Mohamed Jaseem, Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed Rizwan, Meera Sahib Mohamed Nafli, Mohamed Ameer Mohamed Ayathulla, Mohamed Ansardeen Mohamed Ilmi alias Ilmi and Mohamed Akram Ahakkam.
The 17th accused, Yaseem Bawa Abdul Rauff, died during the proceedings.
The case concerned the Easter Sunday attacks carried out on April 21, 2019, which targeted churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. The trial continued for nearly five years and concluded on August 24 this year.
A total of 2,309 prosecution witnesses testified during the proceedings, reflecting the extensive nature of the case, which involved 23,270 charges.
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