The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has sentenced 15 accused convicted over the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks to between 200 and 260 years of rigorous imprisonment. One accused was sentenced to 260 years, four to 240 years, five to 220 years and five to 200 years. The court also ordered the confiscation of their movable and immovable assets. Among those convicted is Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Naufar, also known as Naufar Moulavi. Nine other accused were acquitted and released. The case involved more than 23,270 charges and 2,309 prosecution witnesses. The attacks on 21 April 2019 killed 269 people and injured more than 500.

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 convicted, sentences range from 200 to 260 years

A clash has been reported involving notorious underworld figures Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias “Harak Kata”, and Mandinu Padmasiri Perera, alias "Kehelbaddara Padme", while in prison custody.&nbsp;"Kehelbaddara Padme" has sustained minor injuries in the incident and has been hospitalised, according to the Prisons Department.&nbsp;

Underworld figures 'Harak Kata' and 'Kehelbaddara Padme' clash in prison

The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has sentenced all 15 accused convicted in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks case to 220 years of rigorous imprisonment each. The court found the prosecution had proved the charges against the 15 accused beyond reasonable doubt. Nine other accused were acquitted and released. The case involved more than 23,270 charges and 2,309 prosecution witnesses.

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 convicted, each sentenced to 220 years

<ul><li>&nbsp;Naufer Mawlawi and Gafoor Mama convicted</li><li>9 acquitted and released&nbsp;</li><li>24 indicted by AG on 23,270 charges&nbsp;</li><li>Charges under PTA include conspiracy, aiding &amp; abetting, collecting arms &amp; ammo, attempted murder&nbsp;</li><li>2,309 witnesses for the prosecution&nbsp;</li></ul> The Colombo Permanent High Court (HC) Trial-at-Bar yesterday (22) delivered its long-awaited verdict in the Easter Sunday terror attacks trial against Naufer Mawlawi and 23 co-defendants. Accordingly, 15 defendants have been found guilty in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The remaining nine defendants were ordered to be acquitted and released.The sentences for the 15 accused found guilty were also scheduled to be announced late yesterday.The verdict was delivered in the case filed against 24 defendants on over 23,270 charges — including conspiracy and aiding and abetting — related to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.The Easter Sunday attacks took place on 21 April 2019, when coordinated suicide bombings targeted three churches and three hotels across several parts of Sri Lanka.&nbsp; The attacks killed more than 350 people, including a number of foreign nationals, while over 500 persons sustained injuries in the explosions.Following the attacks, several investigations were launched, including a Presidential Commission of Inquiry and a Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry and several Police investigations.&nbsp;The Attorney General (AG) subsequently filed indictments against 24 accused and sought the appointment of a Trial-at-Bar to hear the case. The AG had filed 23,270 charges against the 24 accused, including allegations of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition and attempted murder under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA). Among those named as accused is Naufer Mawlawi. The case includes allegations over their links to the extremist group responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks. A total of 2,309 witnesses testified for the prosecution in the case.&nbsp;Following daily hearings, the recording of evidence for both the prosecution and the defence concluded on 24 August of this year (2026). Upon concluding the extensive trial, the Court fixed yesterday as the date for delivering the verdict.The three-Judge bench ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond a reasonable doubt the charges filed against the 15 accused. The defendants convicted of all charges were: Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Naufer, alias Naufer Mawlawi; Mohamed Sariboo Adam Lebbe, alias Abu Hadeeq or Gafoor Mama; Hayathu Mohamed Milhan, alias Abu Sila; Mohamed Ibrahim Sadiq Abdullah, alias Abu Umar; Mohamed Ibrahim Shahid Abdul Haq, alias Abu Fala; Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Rizkan, alias Abu Tariq; Mohamed Mansoor Mohamed Sanasdeen, alias Abu Mizan; Abdul Manaf Mohamed Firdous; Mohamed Rameez Mohamed Sajid, alias Sajid Moulavi or Abu Naja; Husainul Risvi Khalid Sameer; Mohamed Haniffa Zainul Abdeen, alias Abu Hina; Mohamed Mustapha Mohamed Haris, alias Abu Naan Siyar;	 Kachchi Mohamed Jesmin; and Zainul Abdeen Mohamed Jaseen.The 10th defendant, Abdul Latheef Mohamed Safi, alias Safi Moulavi or Abu Furqan, was acquitted only of the 16th charge against him. He was found guilty of the remaining charges, bringing the total number of convicted defendants to 15.The following nine defendants were acquitted and released: Mohamed Zawahir Mohamed Hasan, alias Abu Dawood; Mohamed Iftikar Mohamed Insaf, alias Abu Mohamed; Rasheed Mohamed Ibrahim; Razik Raza Hussain; Mohamed Mustapha Mohamed Rizwan; Meera Saheed Mohamed Nafli, alias Abu Sana; Mohamed Ameen Ayanthullah; Mohamed Ansardeen Hilmi; and Mohamed Akram Ahakkam.The Attorney General initially served indictments on 25 defendants, including Naufer Moulavi, on 4 October 2021. However, the 22nd defendant, Yasin Bawa Abdul Rauf, died in 2023 while the trial was underway, leaving 24 defendants.The lengthy trial, which continued for nearly five years, concluded on 24 August.The AG alleged that the defendants conspired with Zahran Hashim and several others to promote extremist ideologies and provoke religious, ethnic and communal hostility.The prosecution alleged that the conspiracy resulted in the coordinated bombings at the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, the St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, the Zion Church in Batticaloa, the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotels in Colombo, and the New Tropical Inn in Dehiwala.Nearly 270 people were killed and 526 others were injured in the attacks.The bomb attack on the St. Anthony’s Shrine was carried out by Ahmed Muath, while Mohamed Hasjthun was identified as the suicide bomber who attacked St. Sebastian’s Church.Mohamed Azzam Mohamed Mubarak carried out the attack on the Kingsbury Hotel, while Zahran Hashim and Ilham Ahmed Mohamed Ibrahim were identified as the two suicide bombers who attacked the Shangri-La Hotel.The attack on the Zion Church was carried out by Mohamed Nasser Mohamed Azad.Inshaf Ahmed Ibrahim, the elder brother of Ilham Ibrahim, carried out the suicide bombing at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.Abdul Latheef Jameel Mohamed, who failed to detonate his bomb at the Taj Samudra Hotel, later detonated it at the New Tropical Inn in Dehiwala.Meanwhile, Fatima Ibrahim, the wife of Ilham Ibrahim, detonated an explosive device when Police officers entered a house at Mahavila Gardens in Dematagoda following the attacks. Three Police officers, Fatima, her unborn child and two other children were killed in that explosion.Special security measures had been deployed at the Aluthkade Courts Complex yesterday morning as the defendants in the case were produced before Court ahead of the delivery of the verdict. Several special Police teams had reportedly been assigned to strengthen security at the Court premises.

 2019 Easter Sunday attacks: HC Trial-at-Bar finds 15 guilty 

<ul><li>Holds special majority is sufficient&nbsp;</li><li>&nbsp;6-yr term limit for CJ not applicable to incumbent&nbsp;</li><li>Judicature (Amendment) Bill also Constitutional</li></ul>&nbsp;The Supreme Court (SC) has determined that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution does not require a referendum and can be passed with a special majority in Parliament, the Speaker announced while informing the House of the Court's Determination. He further added that several clauses in the 22nd Amendment may be passed with a simple majority in Parliament.However, the Determination notes that the term/tenure limit of six years for the Chief Justice (CJ) will not apply to the incumbent CJ, Preethi Padman Surasena. This would mean that he has to retire upon attaining the age of 67. He assumed office as the CJ in late July of last year (2025).The SC also determined that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill – which seeks to raise the age of lower Court/minor Judiciary officers by two years - is not inconsistent with the Constitution and can be passed with a simple Parliamentary majority.&nbsp;The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which seeks to extend the retirement age of Judges of the Apex/Superior Courts (Court of Appeal [CA] and SC) from 63 to 65 in the case of CA Judges, and from 65 to 67 in the case of SC Judges, was presented to Parliament on 18 August by the Justice Minister, attorney Harshana Nanayakkara. Following its presentation, several parties challenged the Constitutionality of the Bill before the SC, with a total of 67 petitions filed in this regard. The petitions were heard before a five-member SC bench comprising CJ Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath B. Abayakoon and K.M. Gihan H. Kulatunga. The hearing of the petitions concluded on 2 September, after which the SC bench announced that its Determination on the Constitutionality of the Bill would be referred to the Speaker.Meanwhile, the Committee on Parliamentary Business has decided that the Parliamentary debate on the 22nd Amendment Bill will be held tomorrow (24) and on 25 September.

SC rules: No referendum needed for 22A

<ul><li>Employees being unable to join TUs is completely illegal&nbsp;</li></ul> Acknowledging that there are situations in the private sector where employees are unable to join trade unions (TUs), Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said that such restrictions are completely illegal and that the Government would intervene when workers are denied their right to organise.When contacted by The Daily Morning, he said that the Government had observed that workers in some parts of the private sector are facing difficulties in becoming members of TUs and that such situations could not be ignored. “We have observed that, to some extent, there is a situation in the private sector where employees are unable to join TUs. We cannot disregard that. It is completely illegal.”&nbsp;&nbsp;He said that the right to form and join TUs is a right guaranteed to workers by the Constitution and that employees should therefore be able to exercise that right. “This is a right that they have under the Constitution itself. Employees definitely have the right to form TUs and join them. However, there are some places in the private sector where employees don’t get the opportunity to enjoy that right. This has happened in the past as well. At present, however, we will definitely intervene in matters of this nature,” he said.Jayasinghe invited employees facing such difficulties to inform the Labour Department or the Labour Ministry, saying that the Government would take action if workers in the private or semi-Government sectors faced problems in exercising their TU rights. “If any individual, group of employees, or employees generally in the private or semi-Government sector have a problem in this regard, they can inform us. We will definitely take action.”&nbsp;The comments come amid concerns from TU representatives over declining TU membership among Sri Lankan workers. National Labour Advisory Council Member and Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees’ Union General Secretary Anton Marcus claimed recently that only around nine per cent of the country’s workforce currently belongs to TUs. He said that while new TUs are still being registered, there has been a decline in workers joining unions in recent years. “This is mainly due to the treatment faced by workers after becoming TU members, particularly in the semi-Government and private sectors. Certain TUs that work with political motives should accept some responsibility for the situation too,” he said.

Restricting right to unionise: Govt to crackdown on private sector 

<ul><li>Deputy Speaker to deliver President’s appeal&nbsp;</li><li>Govt to bear legal costs, reimburse expenses&nbsp;</li></ul> The Government has taken a series of measures to secure a pardon for the Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for alleged blasphemy, Sivarasa Anojan, Cabinet of Ministers Spokesperson Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing yesterday (22), Dr Jayatissa said that the Government had been making diplomatic interventions on the matter since the incident was first reported, including through Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad.&nbsp;He said that arrangements are also being made for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to send a formal appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia, seeking clemency for Anojan and a reduction of his sentence. The Government is also planning to send a cross-party Parliamentary delegation, led by the Deputy Speaker, to deliver the President’s appeal to the Saudi authorities, he said.&nbsp;Additionally, the Government has decided to cover the full cost of the legal proceedings related to the case. This includes reimbursing expenses already incurred and covering future expenses associated with the proceedings.&nbsp;Dr Jayatissa said that two President’s Counsels (PCs), Upul Kumarapperuma and Faiszer Musthapha, are also providing legal assistance and reviewing the case at their own expense.&nbsp;He said that President Dissanayake had discussed the matter with Anojan’s family on Monday (21), while a separate meeting had previously been held with officials from the Attorney General’s Department, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other relevant institutions to discuss possible measures to secure Anojan’s release from the death sentence.“The Government is continuing to pursue several measures in this regard,” Dr Jayatissa said, emphasising that diplomatic, legal and political channels are being pursued to assist Anojan.A discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday to review further measures concerning Anojan. The discussion focused on measures taken so far and considered further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued in connection with the case. Officials also reviewed ongoing coordination with the Saudi Arabian authorities and the progress of the efforts being undertaken in relation to the case. The authorities are continuing to explore available diplomatic and legal avenues concerning Anojan’s situation.Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa spoke by telephone with Anojan, who is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. The telephone conversation took place during a meeting between Premadasa and Anojan’s relatives on Monday. The relatives met Premadasa seeking his intervention in efforts to secure a pardon for Anojan from the Saudi authorities. The telephone conversation took place during a period allocated by the Saudi authorities for Anojan to communicate with his family.Elsewhere, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) has launched an appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, seeking a pardon for Anojan. The ACMC has begun collecting signatures from Parliamentarians in support of the appeal. It has also written to the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, the National Shoora Council and the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, requesting their intervention through the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Sri Lanka to convey the humanitarian appeal to the Saudi authorities. The ACMC said that it remains closely concerned about the situation facing Anojan and his family and will pursue all available legal and diplomatic avenues to seek relief for them.Migrant worker Anojan was sentenced to death after the Saudi prosecution appealed for him to be dealt with under the Sharia law instead of the country’s cybercrime law. Dr Jayatissa said that the initial sentence had been imposed under Saudi Arabia’s cybercrime law. An appeal submitted on behalf of Anojan had also been rejected, according to the Government. He appealed to political leaders not to turn the matter into a political issue, saying that it involved the life of a young Sri Lankan and that diplomatic and legal efforts should be allowed to continue.The Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh remains engaged with the Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels and is providing assistance to Anojan and his family.Addressing Parliament earlier, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said that Anojan was initially sentenced to five years in prison under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law. Herath said that Anojan, who was born on 20 December 1999, travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment on 4 September of last year (2025) and worked for the Dennis Arabia Company Limited under the Japura Upstream Pipeline Phase II project. He said that Anojan’s family had written to the Ministry on 1 July of this year (2026) seeking assistance to bring him back to Sri Lanka after a Facebook post had affected his employment. On the same day, the Embassy contacted his employer and requested assistance to bring him back to Sri Lanka. However, on 2 July, the company informed the Embassy that Anojan had been arrested by the Saudi police. According to information provided to the Embassy by the company, Anojan was alleged to have violated Saudi laws relating to cybercrime through a religiously sensitive statement posted on social media, which was considered to constitute a religious insult. Herath said that a trial was held remotely on 27 July before a three-member criminal court. According to the court judgement, Anojan was found guilty under Article 6(1) of the Law. However, the court did not find him guilty of the religious-insult charge brought by the Public Prosecutor. He said that the lawyer appearing on behalf of the Saudi Government had requested that Anojan be sentenced to death under Sharia law rather than the cybercrime law. However, the first court had not accepted that request. The court instead sentenced Anojan to five years in prison from the date of his arrest, imposed a fine of Saudi Riyal three million, ordered the confiscation of the relevant electronic device and ordered the closure of the relevant social media account. Herath said that the judgement also recorded that Anojan had confessed to the relevant act during both the investigation and the trial. He had also submitted a Facebook video acknowledging that he had committed the offence, he said. Following the judgement, an Embassy official visited the court on 30 July and obtained a certified copy of the judgement, which was sent to the Ministry. The official also visited the prison where Anojan was being held and spoke to him by telephone. During the conversation, Anojan requested assistance to appeal against the judgement. Herath said that the Embassy informed the Ministry of the request on the same day, and the Ministry informed Anojan’s family on 31 July about the judgement and the appeal process. On 4 August, Anojan’s father, Thambirasa Sivarasa, formally requested the Ministry to provide the necessary assistance to file an appeal on behalf of his son. Accordingly, the Embassy consulted a Saudi legal consultancy firm that had handled the Embassy’s legal matters for several years and facilitated the filing of an appeal on Anojan’s behalf. The legal firm submitted a memorandum of appeal to the relevant Court of Appeal on 24 August.

Lankan death rower in Saudi: Cross-party Parliament delegation to Saudi

The Supreme Court (SC) has determined that certain clauses of the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution and may require a special majority in Parliament, while 'Clause 17' requires approval at a referendum, the Speaker announced. According to the SC's Determination, the relevant clauses can be passed only with a special majority in Parliament. However, the SC has determined that Clause 17, in its present form, may become law, only if it is passed with the special majority and approved by the people at a referendum.The SC’s Determination was presented to Parliament by the Speaker at the commencement of yesterday’s (22) sitting.

Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill: SC finds some clauses unconstitutional 

A total of 33 essential medicines are currently unavailable, according to the Health Ministry. The availability of essential medicines has improved, with 585 of the 618 essential medicines currently available, giving an availability rate of 94.66 per cent, Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said.Responding to questions raised in Parliament by Opposition Parliamentarian S M Marikkar during question time yesterday (22), Dr Jayatissa said that there are 886 medicines on the Ministry’s priority list, including 618 essential medicines. He said that, of them, all 13 life-saving medicines are available.&nbsp;Dr Jayatissa said the Government is working to increase the availability of essential medicines to around 98–99%, while steps had also been taken to address shortages through the procurement process. He said that the Ministry is using the Integrated Treasury Management Information System to pay suppliers for medicines procured, while institutions had also been given approval to make local purchases when medicines are unavailable through the normal procurement process. He also referred to outstanding payments to suppliers, including local pharmaceutical manufacturers, as part of the wider procurement and supply situation. In further response, he said that the Government has provided funds for local purchases of medicines to address shortages caused by supplier issues, procurement problems and suppliers failing to provide medicines after accepting ordeRs He said that the quantities of medicines supplied by the Medical Supplies Division are recorded in the Ministry’s Swastha system, which is used to monitor their availability. Dr Jayatissa said that the necessary funds had been provided to obtain medicines through local purchases, and that, once this is completed, medicine availability could be increased to 98%–99%.Meanwhile, responding to further queries on hospital expenditure, Dr Jayatissa said that Rs 5,600 million had been spent on electricity, Rs 1,005 million on water, Rs 2,224 million on food and Rs 279 million on laundry. He said that the annual allocations for these four areas are Rs 9,476 million for electricity, Rs 1,500 million for water, Rs 5,170 million for food and Rs 350 million for laundry, with a total allocation of Rs 16,496 million.&nbsp;

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 convicted, sentences range from 20 ...

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Underworld figures 'Harak Kata ...

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 convicted, each sentenced to 220 years

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 conv ...

2019 Easter Sunday attacks: HC Trial-at-Bar finds 15 guilty

2019 Easter Sunday attacks: H ...

SC rules: No referendum needed for 22A

SC rules: No referendum needed ...

Restricting right to unionise: Govt to crackdown on private sector

Restricting right to unionise: ...

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Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill: SC finds some clauses unconstitution ...

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33 essential meds unavailable

33 essential meds unavailable

Underworld figures 'Harak Kata' and 'Kehelbaddara Padme' clash in pris ...

Underworld figures 'Harak Kata ...

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 convicted, each sentenced to 220 years

Easter Sunday attacks: 15 conv ...

2019 Easter Sunday attacks: HC Trial-at-Bar finds 15 guilty

2019 Easter Sunday attacks: H ...

SC rules: No referendum needed for 22A

SC rules: No referendum needed ...

Restricting right to unionise: Govt to crackdown on private sector

Restricting right to unionise: ...

Lankan death rower in Saudi: Cross-party Parliament delegation to Saud ...

Lankan death rower in Saudi: C ...

Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill: SC finds some clauses unconstitution ...

Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bi ...

33 essential meds unavailable

33 essential meds unavailable

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2019 Easter Sunday attacks: HC Trial-at-Bar finds 15 guilty

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SC rules: No referendum needed for 22A

SC rules: No referendum needed ...

Restricting right to unionise: Govt to crackdown on private sector

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Lankan death rower in Saudi: Cross-party Parliament delegation to Saud ...

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