A three‑judge High Court panel in Colombo delivered verdicts on Tuesday, convicting 15 men for their involvement in the deadly Easter Sunday bombings of April 21, 2019. The attacks, which targeted three churches and three hotels during Easter services, claimed the lives of more than 260 people and injured roughly 500.

Charges and Sentencing

The court found the men guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and firearms and explosives offenses under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Hundreds of police officers were deployed around the courthouse to ensure security during the proceedings.

Background of the Attacks

The bombings were inspired by the Islamic State group and remain among the deadliest acts of violence in Sri Lanka’s history. They killed 42 foreign nationals and devastated communities across the island. While none of the individuals who directly carried out the attacks are still alive, the convictions mark a significant step in holding planners and supporters accountable.

Wider Investigation and Allegations

Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church has claimed, without providing evidence, that the identified perpetrators are not the masterminds and suggested a larger conspiracy. A parliamentary committee later found that police and intelligence officials failed to act on repeated warnings before the attacks.

In July, a former police chief and a former senior defense ministry official received death sentences for neglecting intelligence warnings. Although Sri Lanka has not carried out executions since 1976, such sentences typically result in life imprisonment.

Links to State Intelligence

Allegations have surfaced that the bombers had connections to Sri Lanka’s state intelligence services, which the Defense Ministry has denied. In February, former intelligence chief and retired army major general Suresh Salley was arrested on suspicion of having prior knowledge of the attacks and actively conspiring to carry them out. Salley, credited with a major role in ending the country’s civil war in 2009, remains in custody.

Impact on National Security

The convictions come as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the legacy of its 26‑year civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist group that sought an independent state for the Tamil minority. The court’s decision underscores the government’s ongoing effort to bring justice for the victims and to reinforce the rule of law against terrorism.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.