---
title: Sri Lanka Easter Bombings: Fifteen sentenced to up to 260 years
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/sri-lanka-easter-bombings-fifteen-sentenced-to-up-to-260-years
published: 2026-10-03T20:49:18+00:00
language: en
section: World Church
source: https://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/36345/20261001/15-men-sentenced-over-sri-lanka-easter-bombings.htm
organizations: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, Archdiocese of Colombo, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Christian Today Japan
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Sri Lanka Easter Bombings: Fifteen sentenced to up to 260 years

Sri Lanka’s High Court sentenced fifteen individuals to prison terms ranging from twenty to two hundred sixty years for the 2019 Easter bombings that targeted churches and hotels in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa. The attacks occurred on April twenty‑first, killing approximately two hundred seventy people and injuring more than five hundred. The perpetrators were identified as Islamist extremists inspired by the Islamic State, and all nine suicide bombers died in the explosions. The court, composed of three judges, conducted trials for nearly five years before delivering verdicts on September twenty‑second, with heavy police presence on the sentencing day. Prosecutors charged the defendants under anti‑terrorism law with murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Initially twenty‑five were indicted, one died in custody and nine of the remaining twenty‑four were acquitted, leaving fifteen convicted. The longest sentence, two hundred twenty years, was given to Mohamed Nawfal, whom prosecutors described as the central planner. The court also ordered confiscation of all property belonging to the convicted. The convicted parties have announced intentions to appeal to the Supreme Court. The UK‑based Christian Solidarity Worldwide issued a statement welcoming the judgment cautiously, emphasizing that unresolved doubts about intelligence failures and political manipulation must be clarified before true justice can be achieved.

The founder of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Marvin Thomas, described the verdict as an important milestone in a long‑delayed judicial process and expressed hope that families who have pursued truth for more than seven years will find some closure. He also voiced deep concern that selective justice shielding political masterminds or negligent officials while punishing executors will not lead to genuine peace or reconciliation. The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka welcomed the verdict but urged continued investigation into possible involvement of others in planning or enabling the attacks, stressing that questions about responsibility remain unresolved and must be pursued transparently. The alliance also highlighted the importance of protecting any religious community from collective blame for individual actions. Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Colombo, expressed support for the judgment and affirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to seeking justice and truth, noting that many families suffered loss of both parents in the attacks and that the verdict provides some consolation. Investigations have revealed that security agencies received repeated warnings about imminent attacks but failed to act, prompting criticism and a parliamentary inquiry that concluded the authorities committed a “serious intelligence failure” and did not properly relay Indian‑provided information.

In January twenty‑twenty‑three, the Supreme Court ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to pay compensation to victims, directing a payment of one hundred million rupees, approximately four million seven hundred thousand yen. In July, former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former Deputy Minister of Defence Hemasiri Fernando received death sentences for criminal negligence after ignoring warnings. The article also includes promotional material for Christian Today Japan, inviting readers to become supporters for one thousand yen per month to receive an original eco‑bag featuring a scriptural design, with payment options via credit card. Additional unrelated headlines cover evangelistic events, academic changes at Edinburgh University, statements from released Chinese house church pastors, mission reports for the Ngbandi people in Congo, legal developments in Sri Lanka, and various religious publications and initiatives.