Sri Lankan Justice System Delivers Verdicts in 2019 Easter Bombings Case
(Photo: Aid to the Church in Need)
In a significant move toward justice, a Sri Lankan court has handed out consecutive prison sentences ranging from 200 to 260 years to 15 men involved in the devastating Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. The court’s ruling marks the culmination of a long legal process following the tragic attacks that shocked the nation and the world.
The bombings, which occurred on April 21, 2019, targeted three churches and three luxury hotels during Easter services, resulting in the deaths of approximately 270 individuals and injuring over 500 more. This was Sri Lanka’s deadliest attack since the end of its civil war in 2009, with links found to Islamist extremists inspired by the so-called Islamic State.
Among those convicted was Naufer Moulavi, identified by prosecutors as the mastermind behind the orchestrated attacks. While 15 individuals faced conviction, nine others were acquitted, and one suspect passed away before the trial concluded.
Sentences were issued by a three-judge High Court bench, which also ordered the confiscation of the defendants’ assets. Charges encompassed murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and various offenses under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The judicial decision provides a measure of closure in the prosecution of those responsible for the bombings; however, questions about the full extent of the responsibility remain. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and the National Christian Evangelical Alliance Sri Lanka (NCEASL) have both emphasized the need for ongoing investigations into potential state intelligence failures and political manipulations.
CSW’s founder president, Mervyn Thomas, remarked that the verdict is a crucial step forward but expressed concern about allegations of state complicity. He stressed the importance of further investigations to ensure transparent and comprehensive justice, stating, “A selective justice that punishes the facilitators while shielding political orchestrators or negligent officials will not help in bringing true peace or reconciliation.”
The attacks primarily targeted churches in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa, as well as luxury hotels in Colombo, claiming the lives of many Sri Lankans, including children and families attending Easter services. Foreign nationals from several countries, including three children of Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, also perished in the attacks.
The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, represented by Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, has called for continued efforts to identify all those involved in planning the attacks, asserting that the recent judgment offers some consolation to the victims’ families.
Sri Lankan security agencies have faced criticism for failing to act on intelligence warnings prior to the bombings. The BBC reported that Sri Lankan authorities acknowledged a significant intelligence lapse, with crucial information from India not properly relayed to the relevant parties.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena and other officials must pay compensation due to their inability to prevent the bombings. In a related judgment, two former senior officials were sentenced to death for criminal negligence tied to the attacks.
The Sri Lankan defense ministry has refuted any claims of involvement in the tragic events of 2019.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
