Sri Lanka Court Sentences 15 Easter Bombing Convicts to 220 Years Each

Colombo, September 23, 2026: A Sri Lankan court has sentenced 15 people to more than 200 years in prison each for their involvement in the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, with all the convicted individuals set to challenge the verdict, according to a defence lawyer.

A three-judge bench found 14 of the 24 accused guilty on all charges, while another defendant was convicted on only some of the charges. The remaining nine accused were acquitted.

The court’s verdict relates to a series of coordinated attacks on April 21, 2019, when suicide bombers linked to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat, which had links to ISIS, targeted places of worship and tourist establishments.

The attacks struck three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels, causing widespread casualties and shock across Sri Lanka.

The bombings killed 279 people, according to the latest figures cited in the supplied report, while more than 500 people were injured. The victims included 11 Indians.

Defence lawyers have said the 15 convicted individuals will appeal against the lengthy prison sentences. The appeals are expected to challenge the convictions and the punishment imposed by the court.

The case has remained one of Sri Lanka’s most significant terrorism-related prosecutions since the 2019 attacks, which prompted widespread scrutiny of security preparedness and the handling of intelligence warnings ahead of the bombings.