Easter Sunday attacks case verdict set for Sept. 22

The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar has fixed Sept. 22 to deliver its verdict in the case against 25 accused persons charged over the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

The three-member High Court bench hearing the case announced the date on Monday (24).

The Attorney General has filed 23,270 charges against the 25 accused, including allegations of conspiracy, aiding and abetting the attacks, collecting arms and ammunition, and attempted murder under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Several of the accused have been linked to the extremist group alleged to have carried out the Easter Sunday attacks, with Naufer Moulavi among those named in the case.

The coordinated suicide bombings on April 21, 2019, targeted churches and hotels in several parts of the country, killing more than 270 people, including foreign nationals, and injuring hundreds.

The Attorney General subsequently filed indictments against the 25 accused and sought a Trial-at-Bar to hear the case.

The case was later taken up before the three-member Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar, where proceedings continued over the charges against the accused.

The verdict is now scheduled to be delivered on Sept. 22.