The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar today delivered its long-awaited verdict in the Easter Sunday terror attacks trial against Naufer Mawlawi and 23 co-defendants.

Accordingly, fifteen defendants have been found guilty in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks. 

The verdict is currently being delivered in the case filed against 24 defendants on over 23,270 charges—including conspiracy and aiding and abetting—related to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The judgment is being handed down by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Accordingly, 15 of the 24 defendants have been found guilty.

Ada Derana repoter said that the remaining nine defendants were ordered to be acquitted and released.

The Easter Sunday attacks took place on April 21, 2019, when coordinated suicide bombings targeted three churches and three hotels across several parts of Sri Lanka. 

The attacks killed more than 350 people, including a number of foreign nationals, while over 500 persons sustained injuries in the explosions.

Following the attacks, several investigations were launched, including a Presidential Commission of Inquiry and a Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry and several police investigations. The Attorney General subsequently filed indictments against 24 suspects and sought the appointment of a Trial-at-Bar to hear the case. 

The Attorney General had filed 23,270 charges against the 24 accused, including allegations of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition and attempted murder under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Among those named as accused is Naufer Mawlawi. 

The case includes allegations over their links to the extremist group responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks. 

A total of 2,309 witnesses testified for the prosecution in the case, which was filed by the Attorney General against the 24 defendants, including Naufer Mawlawi. 

Following daily hearings, the recording of evidence for both the prosecution and the defence concluded on August 24, 2026.

Upon concluding the extensive trial, the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar fixed September 22 as the date for delivering the verdict.

Special security measures had been deployed at the Aluthkade Courts Complex this morning (22) as the defendants in the case were produced before the court ahead of the delivery of the verdict.

Several special police teams had reportedly been assigned to strengthen security at the court premises.