Colombo High Court convicts 15 people in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings case, with sentences ranging from 200 to 260 years.
COLOMBO: The Colombo High Court has convicted 15 people over their involvement in the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, bringing a major criminal trial related to the attacks to a verdict after years of proceedings.
The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar delivered its long-awaited judgment on September 22, 2026, finding 15 of the 24 accused guilty in connection with the coordinated attacks that struck churches and luxury hotels across Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019. Nine other defendants were acquitted and released.
The three-judge bench ruled that the prosecution had proved the charges against the convicted defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. The case involved more than 23,270 charges, including allegations of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, attempted murder, and the collection and possession of firearms and ammunition under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Following the convictions, the court imposed prison sentences ranging from 200 to 260 years on the 15 convicted defendants. According to Sri Lankan media reports, one defendant received 260 years, four were sentenced to 240 years each, five received 220 years each, and five were given 200-year sentences. The court also ordered the confiscation of the convicted defendants’ movable and immovable properties.
Among those convicted was Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Naufar, also known as Naufar Moulavi, whom prosecutors identified as a key figure who provided support to the suicide bombing network. The prosecution case involved thousands of pieces of evidence and testimony from more than 2,300 witnesses.
The proceedings were conducted before a three-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar. The verdict followed the conclusion of evidence from both the prosecution and defence, with the recording of evidence completed in August 2026.
2019 Easter Sunday Bombings
The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings took place on April 21, 2019, when coordinated explosions targeted three churches and three luxury hotels during Easter services and celebrations.
The attacks killed hundreds of people and injured more than 500 others. Sri Lankan court coverage has put the death toll at 269, while international reports have cited different figures, including 279. The victims included Sri Lankan citizens as well as foreign nationals.
The attacks were attributed to Sri Lanka-based Islamist militant groups inspired by the Islamic State. The suicide bombers targeted worshippers at churches and guests at hotels in Colombo and elsewhere, making the attacks among the deadliest acts of terrorism in Sri Lanka’s modern history.
The attacks also prompted extensive scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s intelligence and security agencies. A parliamentary investigation found that officials had received warnings about a possible attack but failed to take adequate action. In July 2026, a former police chief and a former senior Defence Ministry official were sentenced to death for failing to respond appropriately to intelligence warnings, although Sri Lanka has not carried out an execution since 1976.
The latest Colombo High Court Easter Sunday bombings verdict is part of a much broader legal and investigative process that has continued for years.
Twenty-five people were originally charged in the main criminal case, but one defendant died while in custody. The prosecution ultimately proceeded against 24 defendants and presented thousands of charges related to the planning, support and facilitation of the attacks.
The case has also remained politically and legally sensitive because of questions about whether authorities acted on intelligence warnings before the bombings. Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court previously ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena and several senior officials had failed to take adequate steps to prevent the attacks despite receiving advance intelligence.
Separately, former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay was arrested in February 2026 in connection with allegations surrounding the attacks. Authorities have accused him of having prior knowledge and involvement, allegations he denies. The investigation into those claims remains separate from the High Court convictions announced in September.
Catholic Church Welcomes Verdict
Sri Lanka’s Roman Catholic Church welcomed the convictions following years of calls for accountability over the Easter attacks. Catholic representatives have repeatedly raised questions about whether the full circumstances behind the bombings have been established.
The latest convictions therefore represent a significant development in the criminal proceedings concerning those accused of helping plan and facilitate the attacks, while other investigations into possible failures by state officials and wider allegations surrounding the bombings continue.
The Colombo High Court ruling gives the families of victims and survivors a major judicial development after more than seven years since the Easter Sunday attacks. The convicted defendants may challenge the verdicts and sentences through the appeals process.
