Easter Sunday trial enters final submissions —What happens next?

The main Trial-at-Bar involving 24 defendants indicted in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks is set to enter the final submissions stage before the Colombo High Court, with the defence scheduled to present its final submissions on the 11th.

The main Trial-at-Bar involving 24 defendants indicted in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks is set to enter the final submissions stage before the Colombo High Court, with the defence scheduled to present its final submissions on the 11th.

The trial, which has been ongoing for nearly three years, has so far seen approximately 245 days of proceedings, with the prosecution concluding the presentation of its evidence.

The case is being heard before a special three-judge High Court bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Navaratne Marasinghe as Chairman, and Justices Sujeewa Nissanka and Ramani Kannangara.

Following the completion of the defence submissions, the Court is expected to record evidence from defence witnesses, after which dates for the judgment will be fixed.

The trial was initially held once a month before being increased to two or three days a week. Since last year, proceedings have been conducted daily as steps were taken to expedite the case.

During the recording of evidence, truth-verification tests were reportedly conducted to establish whether statements and confessions made by the defendants had been given voluntarily.

A member of Zahran Hashim’s suicide squad also testified as a State witness during the proceedings and disclosed a number of details relating to the attacks.

Authorities said nearly 245 days had been spent recording the prosecution’s evidence. The expedited proceedings have brought the case to a decisive stage, despite the complexity of the case and the large number of defendants and witnesses involved.

The prosecution is represented by Deputy Solicitors General Haripriya Jayasundara and Sudarshana de Silva, along with Senior State Counsel Sahabandu, Shakti Wickramaratne and Akila Dilpadas.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings relating to the Easter Sunday attacks continue across several judicial forums.

Of the 31 cases filed in connection with the attacks, five are being heard before Trial-at-Bar benches, while three cases have already concluded with convictions.

In a separate case, a special three-judge High Court bench convicted former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara over allegations that they failed to act on vital intelligence received ahead of the Easter Sunday attacks. They were sentenced to death following their conviction.

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial High Court has also sentenced 11 defendants to death for causing damage to seven Buddha statues and other property in Mawanella.

Legal proceedings are also continuing in connection with explosives and a suspicious vehicle discovered in Wanathawilluwa.

The related case is being heard before the Puttalam High Court, while a separate case involving 24 defendants is being heard before the Colombo High Court. The latter case was transferred following the establishment of new court complexes at the premises of the former Magistrate’s Court, enabling daily hearings.