15 Easter Sunday attack convicts handed 200 to 260 years of rigorous imprisonment
Image by Onlanka.com
The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar today (September 22) sentenced the 15 defendants convicted in the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks case to prison terms ranging from 200 to 260 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The 8th defendant was sentenced to 260 years of rigorous imprisonment, while four defendants were each sentenced to 240 years.
Five defendants were each sentenced to 220 years of rigorous imprisonment, while another five were each sentenced to 200 years.
The court also ordered the confiscation of all movable and immovable property belonging to the convicted defendants and directed that their fingerprints be obtained.
The sentences followed the final judgment in the case over the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, which took place on April 21, 2019, killing 269 people and injuring more than 500 others.
The sentences and related orders were issued by the three-judge Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar comprising Judges Navaratne Marasinghe, Ramanathan Kannan and Sujeewa Nissanka.
Earlier today, the court found 15 defendants guilty in the main case, while nine others were acquitted and released.
The case was filed against 24 accused, including Naufar Maulavi, over their alleged involvement in the attacks that targeted churches and hotels across Sri Lanka.
A total of 23,270 charges, including conspiracy and aiding and abetting the attacks, were filed in the case.
The 15 defendants found guilty are:
- Mohamed Naufar Maulavi
- Mohamed Shareef Adam Lebbe (Gafoor Mama)
- Hayathu Mohamed Ahamed Milhan
- Mohamed Ibrahim Sadik Abdullah
- Mohamed Ibrahim Sahid Abdul Haq
- Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Rizkan
- Mohamed Mansoor Mohamed Sanasdeen
- Abdul Manaf Mohamed Firdous
- Mohamed Rameez Mohamed Sajith
- Abdul Latheef Mohamed Shafi
- Husseinul Rizwi Khalid Sameer
- Mohamed Hanifa Zainul Abdeen
- Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed Haris
- Rasik Raza Hussen
- Kachchi Mohamed Mohamed Jemsith
The nine defendants acquitted and released are:
- Mohamed Sawahir Mohamed Hassan
- Mohamed Ifthikar Mohamed Insaf
- Rasheed Mohamed Ibrahim
- Zainul Abdeen Mohamed Jaseem
- Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed Rizwan
- Meera Sahib Mohamed Nafli
- Mohamed Ameer Mohamed Ayathulla
- Mohamed Ansardeen Mohamed Ilmi alias Ilmi
- Mohamed Akram Ahakkam
Information relating to the case also states that the 17th accused, Yaseem Bawa Abdul Rauff, has died.
The trial lasted for nearly five years and concluded on August 24, 2026.
A total of 2,309 witnesses testified for the prosecution during the proceedings, reflecting the scale of one of the largest and most complex criminal trials in Sri Lanka’s history.
Great! But I have a question. Is this the end of the case, or is there a possibility for an appeal that could drag the matter on for years? And what about the kingpin (the Mahaa‑Molakaru) mentioned in the case?