A Sri Lankan court has found 15 men guilty of involvement in the coordinated Easter Sunday attacks that killed more than 260 people and wounded hundreds across the country in 2019.
The verdict marks a major development in one of Sri Lanka’s most closely watched terrorism cases.
The attacks targeted churches and luxury hotels in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa during Easter services and the holiday period.
Authorities say the bombings were carried out by members of a local extremist group linked to the Islamic State militant organization.
The convictions follow years of investigations, public inquiries and legal proceedings, as victims’ families have pressed authorities to establish who planned, enabled and failed to prevent the attacks.
The case has also drawn scrutiny over warnings reportedly received by Sri Lankan security agencies before the bombings and allegations that officials did not act on them.
The court’s ruling could bring accountability for some of those involved, but questions surrounding the security failures and the broader network behind the attacks remain unresolved.