Final verdict in the Easter attack case:

The final verdict in the Easter attack case, which has been the subject of long discussions and various debates, was announced today. The three-member High Court judge panel ruled that 15 defendants, including Naufer Moulavi, who were accused in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, were found guilty.

The panel of judges also ruled that nine other defendants who were accused would be acquitted and released.

It was further stated that the relevant case has been postponed for the sentencing of the defendants.

Furthermore, the special three-member High Court judge panel acquitted and released 09 defendants, ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove all charges beyond a reasonable doubt.The verdict in the case heard before a three-member High Court judge panel regarding the Easter Sunday terrorist attack was announced by the three-member High Court judge panel comprising Messrs. Navaratne Marasinghe, Ramanathan Kannan, and Sujeewa Nissanka. The Attorney General had filed this case against 24 defendants, including Naufer Moulavi, under 23,270 charges, including committing human murders and causing grievous injuries by carrying out a terrorist attack on Easter Sunday.

This case, filed by the Attorney General on August 10, 2021, under the highest number of indictments in the country's judicial history, was heard for nearly two and a half years. The trial was conducted for over 250 court sessions before this panel of judges appointed by former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, and after examining evidence from 547 out of 2,309 prosecution witnesses and marking 2,076 documents and productions, the prosecution's case concluded on August 13, 2026. Subsequently, the panel of judges announced on August 24 that the final verdict in the case would be delivered on September 22.

During the trial, the main accused, Naufer Moulavi, made a statement from the dock, saying that although he had connections with Zahran Hashim and his group, he did not give instructions to carry out the attacks. The other accused, Hayathu Mohamadu Ahamadu Milhan and Mohamadu Haneefa Zeinul Abdeen, stated that they were forced to sign confessions written in Sinhala under threat to their families, and that they only participated in religious sermons. The Government Analyst revealed that 'Urea Nitrate' high-powered explosives were used for the first time in the country for the attacks on the Katuwapitiya, Kochchikade, and Batticaloa Zion churches. Former Judicial Medical Officer Dr. S. D. Channa Perera, who testified via video technology from Jamaica, confirmed the post-mortem reports of the bombers at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand hotels. From the outset, lawyers Sureen D. Perera, Manushika Kure, Hiruni Perera, Sister Sithija Jayamanna, and Sumiri N. Fernando, among others, appeared on behalf of the victim families.

Furthermore, the case related to the newly launched investigation to find the mastermind and conspiracy behind the Easter attack was also scheduled to be called on the same day at the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court. Following the revelations by Britain's Channel 4, and based on a complaint made by Father Rohan Silva, Executive Director of the Maradana Social and Cultural Centre, the Criminal Investigation Department commenced this investigation. In connection with this, former head of the State Intelligence Service and Army Intelligence, Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay, was arrested in Peliyagoda on February 25, 2026, and questioned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Meanwhile, steps were also taken to impose travel bans on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Colonel Mohamed Ansar, and Prem Ananda Udalagama.

Among the evidence presented against Suresh Sallay, Pillayan's former secretary, Azad Moulana, stated that Rs. 250,000 was given by Army Intelligence with Sallay's intervention to grant bail to Zahran's brother and others, and that on the morning of the attack, Sallay made a call to pick up a person near the Taj Samudra Hotel. The informant named 'Pettha' has stated that a Muslim group observed around Negombo and Katuwapitiya church was assisted based on Sallay's information, and former Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara has noted this as strong evidence. In addition, Abdul Aziz Roomy has also given statements against Sallay.

According to the latest revelations, information about Zahran's extremist activities was continuously received by Army Intelligence through a military informant named Thambiyan, who had connections with India's 'Q' division. Although Thambiyan had informed Army Intelligence about the killing of two police officers in Vavunathivu on November 30, 2018, the Kattankudy motorcycle explosion, and the prior warnings given by the Indian 'Q' division that large-scale destruction was planned for churches the day before the attack, the Director of Intelligence had reported the Vavunathivu incident to the Criminal Investigation Department as an act carried out by the LTTE. Even after the attack, no action was taken based on information that suspects were in Kalmunai, and Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris stated in court that it is questionable whether there was a plan to exterminate Zahran's gang when they could have been captured alive.

Additional Solicitor General pointed out that Suresh Sallay, who was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after being arrested and engaging in a hunger strike, has been obstructing investigations by remaining in the hospital for over 100 days even after abandoning the fast, and that there is suspicion of a medical conspiracy. Although Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara summoned Sallay's medical reports, the Director of the National Hospital has not submitted them, nor have the reports requested by the specialist forensic psychiatric board appointed for torture allegations been provided. The Magistrate had ordered the Hospital Director to appear in court on September 22 and explain why court orders were not implemented, making this day extremely crucial for all seeking justice for the Easter attacks.