A court in Sri Lanka has convicted 15 men over the coordinated 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings on churches and hotels, sentencing each to at least 200 years in prison. Nine other defendants were acquitted.
Key facts
- 15 men were convicted over the April 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
- Each convicted man was sentenced to at least 200 years in prison, according to The Guardian.
- Nine people were acquitted and one defendant found guilty of only some charges, according to Al Jazeera.
- The attacks targeted three churches and three hotels, killing hundreds and wounding nearly 600.
- The bombings were inspired by the Islamic State group and were among the deadliest in Sri Lanka's history.
A court in Sri Lanka has convicted 15 men over their involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, according to reporting from the BBC, Al Jazeera, NPR and The Guardian. Each of the convicted men was sentenced to at least 200 years in prison, meaning they will spend the rest of their lives behind bars, The Guardian reported.
Al Jazeera reported that nine people were acquitted in the case, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges brought against them.
The coordinated suicide attacks took place on 21 April 2019, targeting three tourist hotels and three churches across the country during Easter services and celebrations. Al Jazeera put the death toll at 279, while The Guardian reported 267 people were killed. Earlier reporting from the BBC referred to 270 people killed across churches and hotels in Colombo.
The Guardian reported that nearly 600 people were wounded in the attacks. NPR noted that 42 of those killed were foreigners.
The bombings were inspired by the Islamic State group, according to NPR and The Guardian. Multiple outlets described the attacks as among the deadliest in Sri Lanka’s history and the worst the country had seen since the end of its civil war in 2009.
The verdict brings a legal conclusion to one of the most significant terrorism cases in Sri Lanka’s recent history, following one of its deadliest ever attacks.
Why it matters
The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings were among the deadliest attacks in Sri Lanka's history, killing hundreds of worshippers and hotel guests, including dozens of foreigners. The convictions and lengthy sentences mark a major step toward accountability for the victims and their families more than seven years after the tragedy.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were convicted and what sentences did they receive?
Fifteen men were convicted, and each was sentenced to at least 200 years in prison, according to The Guardian, meaning they will spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Nine other people were acquitted and one defendant was found guilty of only some charges, according to Al Jazeera.
How many people died in the 2019 Easter bombings?
Death toll figures vary across outlets. Al Jazeera reported 279 people were killed, The Guardian reported 267, and the BBC earlier referred to 270. NPR reported that 42 of those killed were foreigners.
Who was behind the attacks?
According to NPR and The Guardian, the coordinated suicide bombings were inspired by the Islamic State group. They targeted three churches and three hotels on 21 April 2019.