Sri Lanka court convicts 15 in 2019 Easter bombings, hands down life terms

A Sri Lankan High Court on Tuesday convicted 15 men for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 267 people, sentencing each to a minimum of 200 years in prison — terms that will keep them behind bars for the rest of their lives.

The three-judge panel also ordered the confiscation of the defendants' property and invalidated any transfers made under the country's anti-terror legislation. The verdict was delivered under heavy security, with hundreds of police officers deployed around the courthouse, capping a trial that ran for nearly five years.

The April 21, 2019 attacks struck three churches and three hotels across Sri Lanka during Easter services and celebrations, wounding 574 people. Among the dead were 42 foreign nationals. The bombings, inspired by the Islamic State group, rank among the deadliest attacks in the island nation's history and left communities across the country devastated.

All those convicted belong to Sri Lanka's minority Muslim community. Authorities filed 23,270 charges in 2021 against 25 suspects accused of planning or inspiring the attacks; one died pending trial. The charges included murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and firearms and explosives offenses under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. None of those believed to have directly carried out the attacks are alive. Two Sri Lanka-based Islamic militant groups were accused of executing the bombings.

In court, the accused appeared relaxed, chatting and laughing among themselves during breaks, and were granted a prayer break during the lengthy reading of the judgment. Nine defendants were freed after the court found the charges against them unproven. Those acquitted tearfully embraced the remaining defendants as they were separated from the convicts, who were later invited to argue for lenient sentences. Seven defendants had no legal representation and spoke for themselves.

The first defendant, Islamic cleric Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Naufer, declined to make any request, citing religious reasons. "According to Islam, no religious leader should plead with (secular) authorities over any matter. Therefore, I do not wish to state anything," he said. Prosecutors had alleged he used his teachings to radicalize the other defendants. He received 220 years with hard labor.

Another defendant, Mohamed Ibrahim Saadiq Abdulla, who was sentenced to 240 years with hard labor, said: "What I did or didn't do only God and I know. In the end all people will be resurrected and God will judge everyone."

In total, five defendants were sentenced to 200 years each, five to 220 years, four to 240 years and one to 260 years, reflecting their varying roles in conspiring and aiding the attacks.

Outside the courthouse, Catholic clergy met with families of the victims. Father Jude Krishantha, director of mass communication for the Catholic Church, said the judgment brought a measure of satisfaction. "Today we observe that 15 people were given imprisonment, so we are satisfied, and we are happy," he said, expressing hope that the ruling would deter future attacks. He added that the suicide bombers "are not isolated people. They were used for another purpose: to take power."

Father Dilan Perera of the Archdiocese of Colombo said the judgment carried a broader message for a multi-cultural, multi-national and multi-religious country. "There cannot be one religion coming up like this and leading up to killings and destroying other people," he said.