World · India Bureau
Sri Lanka Court Convicts 15 in 2019 Easter Bombing Case
A Sri Lankan court has found 15 defendants guilty in connection with the devastating Easter Sunday suicide bombings of 2019, sentencing them to a combined 220 years imprisonment. The verdict marks a significant development in the case involving coordinated attacks that killed approximately 270 people.
LSN India ·
The Colombo High Court delivered its judgment in the case related to the coordinated bombings that struck churches and hotels across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. The court found all 15 accused persons guilty of charges related to the attacks and imposed cumulative sentences totaling 220 years.
In addition to the custodial sentences, the court ordered the confiscation of all assets belonging to the convicted individuals. The ruling represents one of the most significant judicial outcomes since the attacks claimed nearly 270 lives, devastating the island nation and drawing international attention to terrorism in South Asia.
Among those killed in the Easter Sunday bombings were 11 Indian nationals, underscoring the attacks' broader regional impact. The coordinated assaults targeted three churches—St. Anthony's Shrine in Colombo, St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, and Zion Church in Batticaloa—as well as luxury hotels including the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand in the capital.
The convictions follow an extensive investigation by Sri Lankan authorities with international cooperation. The verdict is expected to provide some measure of closure to survivors and families of the victims, though legal proceedings related to the case may continue.