A Sri Lankan court has sentenced 15 people to 220 years in prison each for their role in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, one of the deadliest terror attacks in the country’s history.
The three‑judge bench found 14 of the accused guilty on all charges, while one was convicted on some counts. Nine others were acquitted. Defence lawyers confirmed that all 15 convicts will appeal the record jail terms.
The Easter Sunday blasts, carried out by nine suicide bombers from the local extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat, linked to ISIS, tore through three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels on April 21, 2019. The coordinated attacks killed 279 people, including 11 Indians, and injured more than 500 others.
The verdict marks a significant step in Sri Lanka’s long‑running judicial process over the tragedy, which shocked the world and exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s security apparatus. Survivors and families of victims continue to seek justice and accountability for the devastating loss.
