Introduction

A Sri Lankan court on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, convicted 15 of 24 suspects in the landmark case linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings, while nine others were acquitted. The attacks killed around 270 people, including 11 Indians, and injured more than 500 others.

The verdict marks a major judicial development in one of Sri Lanka's deadliest terrorist attacks. The trial continued for nearly five years and involved more than 23,270 charges and testimony from 2,309 prosecution witnesses.

15 Suspects Found Guilty, Nine Acquitted

The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar delivered its verdict against the 24 accused on Tuesday. Fifteen defendants were found guilty, while nine were acquitted and released. Naufar Moulavi, identified in the case as a key suspect, was among those convicted.

The three-judge bench consisted of Judges Navaratne Marasinghe, Ramanathan Kannan and Sujeewa Nissanka. The case was prosecuted under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act and involved allegations including conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism, murder and attempted murder, as well as offences involving firearms and explosives.

What Happened on Easter Sunday in 2019?

On April 21, 2019, coordinated suicide bombings struck three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels in Sri Lanka during Easter Sunday celebrations.

The attacks targeted locations in and around Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa. Nine suicide bombers linked to the local extremist group National Thowheed Jamaath carried out the coordinated attacks. Investigations linked the group to the Islamic State extremist organisation.

The bombings caused widespread devastation, killing hundreds of people and injuring more than 500. Foreign nationals were also among the victims, including 11 Indians, according to reports on the court verdict.

Nearly Five Years of Court Proceedings

The case became one of Sri Lanka's most extensive terrorism trials. Prosecutors presented evidence over hundreds of hearing days, while the proceedings continued for nearly five years.

According to Sri Lankan reports, the prosecution presented testimony from 2,309 witnesses and filed 23,270 charges against the accused. The evidence included material related to explosives, weapons and other items connected to the investigation.

The court concluded the recording of evidence from both the prosecution and defence in August 2026 before fixing September 22 for the verdict.

Political and Security Fallout

The 2019 attacks also triggered intense political scrutiny over whether Sri Lankan authorities acted adequately on intelligence warnings received before the bombings.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe faced criticism over the security failures surrounding the attacks. Separately, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that several senior officials, including Sirisena, had violated victims' fundamental rights by failing to prevent the attacks despite receiving warnings.

The accountability process has continued beyond the main terrorism case. In August 2026, a Sri Lankan court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death for failing to prevent the attacks after intelligence warnings.

Why Tuesday's Verdict Matters

The conviction of 15 defendants represents a significant step in the long-running legal proceedings surrounding the Easter Sunday attacks. However, the verdict concerns the accused before this particular Trial-at-Bar, while other investigations and proceedings connected to the wider circumstances surrounding the attacks have continued separately.

The case has remained closely watched by victims' families, religious communities and Sri Lankan authorities because of the scale of the loss of life and questions surrounding the intelligence and security failures preceding the bombings.

Key Highlights

• 15 of 24 suspects were convicted by the Sri Lankan court.
• 9 suspects were acquitted and released.
• The verdict was delivered on September 22, 2026.
• The attacks took place on April 21, 2019.
• Around 270 people were killed, according to reports on the verdict.
• More than 500 people were injured.
• 11 Indians were among those killed, according to the reported figures.
• The attacks targeted three churches and three luxury hotels.
• The case involved 23,270 charges.
• 2,309 prosecution witnesses testified during the trial.
• The proceedings lasted nearly five years.
• Naufar Moulavi was among those convicted.
• The case was heard by a three-judge Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Professional Disclaimer & Third-Party Reference

This article is based on publicly available reporting and court-related information from third-party news sources, including Associated Press (AP), Press Trust of India (PTI), News 1st Sri Lanka and other Sri Lankan news reports. Details concerning the verdict, charges, witnesses and victims have been cross-checked against available reports published on September 22, 2026. Court proceedings and related investigations may continue separately, and further judicial developments could alter the broader legal picture.

Conclusion

The conviction of 15 suspects brings a significant phase of the legal proceedings over Sri Lanka's 2019 Easter Sunday bombings to a close, while nine defendants were acquitted. The case remains an important part of Sri Lanka's continuing efforts to establish accountability for the attacks and address the security failures surrounding one of the country's deadliest terrorist incidents.