Fifteen Guilty in Sri Lanka Easter Attacks as Court Details Verdict and Accountability Questions
Fifteen of the 24 defendants in Sri Lanka’s 2019 Easter bombings were found guilty (14 on all charges; one on some charges) and nine were acquitted, in a case built on thousands of witness testimonies and hundreds of evidentiary items. The attacks killed 279 people and injured hundreds across churches and hotels. Earlier, two former officials were sentenced to death for criminal negligence. The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling found key officials failed to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence and ordered compensation to victims, highlighting ongoing debates over security failures and accountability in Sri Lanka.