Sri Lanka: 15 Easter Bombing Perpetrators Sentenced to 220 Years in Prison

Sri Lanka's High Court has sentenced 15 men to 220 years in prison each for their direct involvement in the deadly terror bombings on Easter Sunday 2019. The ruling by the three-judge panel found them guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of firearms and explosives. In addition to the centuries-long sentences, the court ordered the confiscation of all assets and property belonging to the convicted individuals. This firm decision concludes a lengthy five-year judicial process that brought dozens of suspects to trial. This landmark verdict marks a new turning point in Sri Lanka's law enforcement following the tragedy that claimed 279 lives. The court's action signals a strong message that networks supporting acts of terrorism will not escape the highest legal scrutiny. Of the 25 individuals initially charged, 14 were proven guilty of all charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Meanwhile, one other defendant was found guilty of only some accusations but still received the same total sentence. Nine out of the total 25 initially charged were acquitted of all accusations. Furthermore, one suspect reportedly died while in custody during the investigation. The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka welcomed the legal decision, deeming the five-year waiting period to be rewarded with justice for the victims. Father Jude Fernando expressed his relief directly after hearing the judges' verdict, stating to AFP, "Finally, we have justice. It took a very long time to get to this point." Teresa Fernando, a survivor who suffered severe head injuries, stated she is ready to accept whatever the court decides. She hopes the dark tragedy she experienced will never be repeated or experienced by anyone else in the future. "We come here today as victims of this attack to receive justice," she said. "Whatever the court says... we will bow our heads and believe it." Among the convicted, the name Mohamed Naufar emerged as a crucial figure in the bloody tragedy. Prosecutors successfully proved his role as the main mastermind who facilitated and supported the suicide bomber team. The convicted individuals, all from the minority Muslim community, were proven to have aided the actions of eight suicide bombers. An organized local extremist group is accused of being the main perpetrator behind the planned attacks. The trial set a new record in Sri Lanka's legal history as prosecutors filed 23,270 charges simultaneously. This number of indictments is the largest ever recorded in a single criminal case file in the country. Three of the dozens of defendants on trial have also faced separate charges from US authorities since December 2020. These international charges are directly related to allegations of trans-border acts of terrorism. Source: Suara.com