SRI LANKA COURT CONVICTS 15 OVER 2019 EASTER BOMBINGS

Sri Lanka's High Court has convicted 15 men over the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019, in which suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels, killing 279 people and wounding around 500. A three-judge panel found 14 of the men guilty on all charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism and possessing firearms and explosives, while a 15th was convicted on some charges. Nine other defendants were acquitted. Prosecutors named Naufer Moulavi as the mastermind of the bombings. Sentencing is due later the same day.

The trial lasted five years, according to one report, hearing testimony from more than 2,300 prosecution witnesses and examining 2,076 pieces of evidence, including explosives, swords and firearms. Of 25 men originally indicted, one died in custody; the remaining 24 faced more than 23,000 charges, and all those who carried out the bombings died in the blasts. Victims included the celebrity chef Shantha Mayadunne and her daughter, eight hotel staff, and five members of one family from Negombo. Among 45 foreign nationals killed were five Americans, 11 Indians, eight Britons and three children of Danish businessman Anders Holch Povlsen, killed in the Shangri-La hotel bombing.

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has found former President Maithripala Sirisena responsible for national security failures and ordered him to pay $273,300 in compensation. Former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defence ministry secretary Hemasiri Fernando were sentenced to death for criminal negligence, though such sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment under Sri Lanka's moratorium on executions. Both were also ordered to pay compensation to victims' families. A separate investigation is under way into former intelligence chief Suresh Sally, accused of coordinating the attacks with those responsible for political gain.