Sri Lankan Court Sentences 15 Men for 2019 Easter Sunday Bombings

A Sri Lankan High Court has sentenced 15 men to prison terms ranging from 200 to 260 years for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The coordinated suicide attacks, which targeted three churches and three luxury hotels, resulted in approximately 270 deaths and over 500 injuries. Among those convicted was Naufer Moulavi, identified by prosecutors as the primary planner of the operation. The ruling, delivered by a three-judge bench, also mandates the seizure of the defendants' assets.

While the verdict concludes a major legal chapter more than seven years after the tragedy, Christian advocacy groups have expressed a cautious response. Christian Solidarity Worldwide and the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka both welcomed the sentencing as a significant step toward justice. However, both organizations emphasized that the process remains incomplete. They called for continued investigations into allegations of state intelligence failures and potential political manipulation, asserting that the search for full accountability regarding those who enabled or supported the attacks must persist.