The High Court in Colombo delivered a long‑awaited verdict on the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, convicting 15 men of involvement in the coordinated attacks that killed 270 people and injured more than 500. The decision, announced after extensive security preparations in the courtroom, marks a significant, though partial, step toward accountability for one of Sri Lanka’s deadliest peacetime tragedies.
Background to the attacks
On Easter Sunday 2019, suicide bombers struck three churches and three luxury hotels across Sri Lanka, inflicting the highest death toll since the end of the civil war in 2009. Among the 270 victims were 45 foreign nationals from countries including Australia, Denmark, Japan, and Turkey. The bombings were attributed to Islamist extremists, and the 25 men originally indicted were drawn from the country’s Muslim minority.
The convictions
Among the 15 men found guilty, the court identified Naufer Moulavi as the alleged mastermind behind the suicide bombings. The list of convicted individuals also included notable figures such as celebrity chef Shantha Mayadunne and her daughter, a family of five, and multiple hotel staff members who were directly linked to the targeted establishments. The defendants were handcuffed in pairs and escorted to the courtroom in two prison buses.
Conversely, nine co‑accused were acquitted, underscoring the complexity of the case and the evidentiary standards required for conviction. All of the actual bombers died in the blasts, and one of the original 25 indicted individuals died while in custody.
Broader legal and political context
The convictions arrive against a backdrop of ongoing legal actions stemming from the attacks:
- In 2023, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to pay compensation to victims, finding him responsible for national‑security failures.
- Earlier in the year, two former senior officials received death sentences for criminal negligence related to the bombings, though such sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment due to a longstanding moratorium on executions.
- Investigations continue into former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, who faces accusations of orchestrating the attacks alongside Islamist extremists. Sallay denies the allegations.
These proceedings reflect sustained public demand for justice, with regular demonstrations persisting since the attacks.
Uncertainties and ongoing investigations
While the convictions provide a measure of closure, several uncertainties remain:
- The acquittals raise questions about the evidentiary gaps that prevented a full conviction of all indicted individuals.
- Allegations aired in a 2023 Channel 4 documentary suggest that the bombings may have been allowed to occur to bolster the political standing of the Rajapaksa family, a claim that remains unproven and contested.
- Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who campaigned on tackling Islamist extremism after the attacks, has been banned from leaving the country and is seeking court protection against potential arrest related to the ongoing inquiries.
Implications for Sri Lanka
The verdict signals a judicial willingness to hold individuals accountable, yet the broader systemic issues highlighted by the case—intelligence lapses, political interference, and communal tensions—persist. The court’s decision may influence future reforms in intelligence sharing and counter‑terrorism policy, especially given prior revelations that a tip‑off from India was not adequately acted upon.
For the families of the victims, many of whom were foreign nationals, the convictions represent a partial acknowledgment of the suffering endured. However, the path toward comprehensive reconciliation and institutional reform remains a work in progress, contingent on the outcomes of the remaining investigations and the political will to address the underlying causes of the tragedy.