Sri Lanka court convicts 15 men over deadly Easter Sunday bombings

Sri Lanka's High Court has convicted 15 men for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks. The coordinated blasts targeted three churches and three luxury hotels, resulting in 270 deaths and over 500 injuries. Naufer Moulavi, identified by prosecutors as the mastermind, was among those found guilty. Nine other men were acquitted. The accused faced charges including murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism, with over 23,000 offenses alleged. Investigators have attributed the attacks to Islamist extremists, and the indicted men were from Sri Lanka's Muslim minority. The article also notes that authorities pointed to a "major intelligence lapse" following the attacks.

Sri Lanka's High Court has convicted 15 out of 24 men accused in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The coordinated attacks targeted three luxury hotels and three churches, killing 279 people and injuring over 500. After a five-year trial, a three-judge bench found 14 defendants guilty on all charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism. A 15th defendant was convicted on some charges, while nine others were acquitted. All accused are from Sri Lanka's minority Muslim community. Prosecutors identified Mohamed Naufar as the ringleader who provided support to the suicide squad. Sentencing is scheduled to take place later on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka is nearing the conclusion of a trial involving 24 men accused of plotting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. These attacks, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners, targeted three luxury hotels and three churches on April 21, 2019. Investigators attribute the deadliest civilian attack in Sri Lanka's history to a home-grown Islamist extremist group. Initially, 25 men from Sri Lanka's Muslim minority were indicted, but one died in custody, leaving 24 defendants to face trial. The trial is scheduled to finish on Tuesday.

A Sri Lankan court is set to deliver a verdict on the 2019 coordinated Easter bombings, which killed 270 people in churches and hotels. The attacks followed a significant intelligence lapse, with India having reportedly provided a tip-off that was not properly shared. In 2023, former president Maithripala Sirisena was ordered to pay compensation for national security failures. Last month, two former officials received death sentences for criminal negligence, though such sentences are typically commuted. A separate investigation is ongoing into former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, accused of orchestrating the bombings with extremists, allegations he denies. These accusations align with claims made in a documentary suggesting the attacks were permitted to benefit the Rajapaksa family's political standing.