Final verdict in the Easter attack case on September 22

The three-member High Court bench in Colombo today ordered that the verdict in the case filed regarding the series of Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in 2019 will be announced on September 22. The date for the verdict was set after the conclusion of the submission of defense arguments and the examination of defense witnesses in this case, which was filed by the Attorney General against 24 defendants under 23,270 charges.

This trial was held daily before a three-member High Court bench comprising Colombo High Court Judges Navaratne Marasinghe, Sujeewa Nissanka, and Ramanathan Kannan. After the prosecution concluded examining the testimonies of 2,309 witnesses, the calling of prosecution evidence was officially concluded on the 17th.

Subsequently, during the examination of defense witnesses, some defendants presented their statements from the dock, while others called witnesses on their behalf to the court. The examination of defense evidence concluded today around 6:00 PM, and the bench ordered lawyers from both parties to submit any remaining legal submissions to the court before September 9.

This case has been filed against 24 defendants, including Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed Naufer alias Naufer Moulavi, for conspiring and aiding the suicide bomb attacks targeting Christian churches and tourist hotels in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa in 2019. The defendants face numerous serious charges, including the killing of 493 people and attempting to kill another 568 people in those attacks.

A legal team appeared for the prosecution in this case, comprising Senior Additional Solicitor General President's Counsel Harinpriya Jayasundara and Additional Solicitor General President's Counsel Sudarshana de Silva, along with Attorneys-at-Law Sajith Bandara, Shakthi Jagodaarachchi, and Akila Dalpadadu.