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Sri Lanka court convicts 15 men over Easter Sunday bombings

Sri Lanka court convicts 15 men over Easter Sunday bombings

Rule Changes

Court sentences 15 men to 200-260 years for Easter bombings; appeals begin

September 23rd, 2026: Convicted men to appeal to Supreme Court

Overview

Updated Sep 23

A Sri Lankan court convicted 15 men on September 22 for plotting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, the country's deadliest attack since its civil war ended in 2009. Their prison terms run 200 to 260 years, effectively life sentences.

A day later, defense lawyer Kaneel Maddumage said all 15 will appeal to the Supreme Court. The bombings killed 270 people at three churches and three luxury hotels. Nine defendants were acquitted; prosecutors named Naufer Moulavi as the attack's mastermind.

Why it matters

The verdict delivers the first criminal accountability for the 2019 attacks, but a separate case against a former intelligence chief still tests the state's role.

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Key Indicators

15
Defendants convicted
Convicted of plotting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and sentenced to 200-260 years in prison.
270
People killed in attacks
Killed in coordinated bombings at three churches and three luxury hotels on April 21, 2019.
23,270
Criminal charges filed
Charges against 24 defendants, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possessing firearms.
9
Defendants acquitted
Acquitted and released by the court after the prosecution failed to prove the charges.
2,309
Prosecution witnesses
People who gave evidence during the trial.
200-260
Years in prison
Prison terms handed to the 15 convicted men: five got 200 years, five got 220, four got 240, and one got 260.

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People Involved

NM
Naufer Moulavi
Alleged mastermind of the Easter Sunday bombings
Convicted and sentenced to prison
ZH
Zahran Hashim
Leader of the suicide squad
Died in the attacks
 Maithripala Sirisena
Maithripala Sirisena
Former president of Sri Lanka
Ordered to pay compensation to victims
 Hemasiri Fernando
Hemasiri Fernando
Former Defence Secretary
Sentenced to death for criminal negligence
PJ
Pujith Jayasundara
Former Inspector General of Police
Sentenced to death for criminal negligence
SS
Suresh Sallay
Former intelligence chief
In custody facing accusations of orchestrating the bombings
KM
Kaneel Maddumage
Defense lawyer for the convicted men
Announced appeal for all 15 convicted men

Organizations Involved

Colombo High Court
Colombo High Court
Permanent Trial-at-Bar court
Delivered the verdict in the Easter bombings trial

The three-judge panel that heard the Easter bombings case, beginning evidence examination in October 2022 and concluding in August 2026.
Sri Lanka Attorney General's Department
Sri Lanka Attorney General's Department
Government prosecution authority
Filed the charges in the Easter bombings case

Filed 23,270 charges against 24 defendants under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possessing firearms and explosives.

Timeline

April 2019 September 2026

11 events Latest: September 23rd, 2026 · 2 months ago Showing 8 of 11
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Convicted men to appeal to Supreme Court

    Latest Legal

    Defense lawyer Kaneel Maddumage said the 15 men convicted over the Easter bombings will appeal both their convictions and their 200-260 year sentences to the Supreme Court.

  2. Court convicts 15, acquits nine

    Legal

    Colombo High Court convicts 15 defendants, acquits and releases nine others.

  3. Court sentences 15 men to 200-260 years

    Legal

    The Colombo High Court sentenced the 15 convicted men to prison terms of 200 to 260 years, meaning they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

  4. Evidence recording concludes

    Legal

    Recording of evidence for the prosecution and defence concludes after about 250 trial days.

  5. Two former security officials sentenced to death

    Legal

    Former Defence Secretary and police chief sentenced to death for criminal negligence.

  6. Accused plead not guilty

    Legal

    Accused plead not guilty after the indictment is amended.

  7. Supreme Court orders Sirisena to pay compensation

    Legal

    Supreme Court orders former president Sirisena to pay millions in compensation to victims.

  8. Prosecution evidence examination begins

    Legal

    Prosecution evidence examination begins at the Colombo High Court.

  9. Attorney General requests Special High Court

    Legal

    Attorney General requests a Special High Court to hear the Easter bombings case.

  10. US charges three defendants

    Legal

    US authorities charge three Sri Lankan defendants with terrorism offences linked to the bombings.

  11. Easter Sunday bombings kill 270

    Attack

    Suicide bombers hit three churches and three luxury hotels, killing 270 people including 45 foreigners.

Scenarios

1

Convicted men face sentencing, death commuted to life

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: AFP, BBC News

The court will hold a sentencing hearing for the 15 convicted men. Sri Lanka has not carried out an execution since 1976, and death sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment. Local media reported some of the convicted could face the death penalty.

2

Appeals overturn some convictions

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Defense attorneys, legal analysts

The convicted men can appeal to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Given the trial's reliance on confessions and the scale of the charges, some convictions may be reduced or overturned on appeal.

3

Suresh Sallay convicted in separate state-complicity case

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, investigators

The former intelligence chief faces separate accusations that he orchestrated the bombings. Investigators allege the network was cultivated to manufacture a security threat that would bolster political support for the Rajapaksa family. Sallay denies the allegations.

4

Convicted men file appeals within weeks

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Defense attorneys

Lawyers for the 15 convicted men are expected to appeal to the Court of Appeal, challenging both the convictions and the sentences. Sri Lankan law guarantees convicted defendants a right to appeal, and the process could take years.

5

Supreme Court appeal reduces or overturns some convictions

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Defense lawyer Kaneel Maddumage, legal analysts

Maddumage said the 15 men will appeal both the convictions and the sentences. One likely ground: Naufer Moulavi told the court he had not seen the confession he signed before retracting it. The appeal process could take years.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 2002 - November 2008

Bali bombings trials (2002-2008)

On October 12, 2002, Islamist militants detonated bombs in Bali, Indonesia, killing 202 people, mostly foreign tourists. The attacks targeted nightclubs in the Kuta district.

Then

Indonesian authorities arrested and tried dozens of suspects. Three men were sentenced to death and executed in 2008.

Now

The trials established a legal precedent for prosecuting mass-casualty terror attacks in Southeast Asia.

Why this matters now

Like Sri Lanka, Indonesia faced the challenge of prosecuting Islamist extremists responsible for a mass-casualty attack on civilians.

September 2021 - June 2022

Paris attacks trial (2021-2022)

The November 2015 attacks in Paris killed 130 people. The trial of 20 defendants ran for nine months, with verdicts delivered in June 2022.

Then

The main defendant, Salah Abdeslam, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole.

Now

The trial showed how a European country handles a mass-casualty terror attack through a lengthy, complex legal process.

Why this matters now

Both trials took years to reach verdicts and involved large numbers of defendants and charges.

April 1995 - June 2001

Oklahoma City bombing (1995)

On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. He was convicted in 1997 and executed in 2001.

Then

McVeigh was sentenced to death and executed, becoming the first federal execution in the US in 38 years.

Now

The case set a precedent for prosecuting the mastermind of a mass-casualty domestic terror attack.

Why this matters now

Shows how a country handles the mastermind of a mass-casualty attack, from trial to sentencing.

Sources

(20)
+14
BBC News Newswire South China Morning Post FrontPage The Morning The Star Financial Chronicle Zira Daily NAMPA / AFP The Guardian The Straits Times CNA Al Jazeera The Independent ABC News (Australia) UCA News Newswire The Morning The Star The Morning