137th Day of the Main Easter Attack Trial – HC (TAB) 2972/21
Date: 02nd February 2026|
Venue: Special Trial-at-Bar, Colombo 07
The case was taken up before the Trial-at-Bar with all accused present, except for the 9th and 17th accused. The matter was called for the purpose of delivering the orders in respect of the voir dire inquiries pertaining to the 5th and 15th accused and for fixing the date for the commencement of the trial.
Today, a lawyer appeared before the Court on behalf of the 9th accused and in respect of the 4th accused, a counsel from the Legal Aid Commission appeared. The Counsel for the 5th and 15th accused appeared today solely for the purpose of obtaining the orders delivered by the court. The 12th and 13th accused were also represented before the Court. No counsel appeared on behalf of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th accused today. The 16th accused informed the court that he would conduct his case in person, without legal representation.
The Court was thereafter adjourned until 2.00 p.m. to enable the accused to select the documents relevant to them and for the purpose of delivering the order for the voir dire inquiries conducted in respect of the 5th and 15th accused.
An order was made in respect of the voir dire inquiry pertaining to the 5th accused, in which the court determined that the statement made by the 5th accused on 5th September 2019 before Hon. Magistrate, Upul Rajakaruna, under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979, had been given voluntarily. Accordingly, the said statement recorded on 5th September 2019, which had been temporarily marked as B1, was marked as P170.
A further order was made in respect of the voir dire inquiry pertaining to the 15th accused, wherein the court determined that the statements made by the 15th accused on 26th September 2019, 18th October 2019, and 1st November 2019 before Hon. Magistrate, Upul Rajakaruna, under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979, had been given voluntarily. Consequently, the said statements, which had been temporarily marked as C1, C2A, and C3, were marked as P174, P178, and P176, respectively.
The 4th accused informed the Court that he did not wish to be represented by the Counsel from the Legal Aid Commission. The Counsel from the Legal Aid Commission submitted to Court that he is ready to represent the 4th accused and requested the Court to make a final determination as to whether the 4th accused is unwilling to accept representation by the Legal Aid Commission. Upon inquiry by Court, the 4th accused confirmed that he did not wish to have a counsel from the Legal Aid Commission and stated that he would represent himself during the trial. The Court stated that all measures had been taken since 9th January 2026 to assist the accused in appointing counsels to represent them and, accordingly, informed that the trial in this case would commence on 9th February 2026 and proceed on a day-to-day basis.
The Court thereafter ordered that summons be issued on PW 2140, Hon. Magistrate Upul Rajakaruna, and further directed prison authorities to produce the 9th accused before the Court on the next date.
The matter was fixed to be called again on 9th February 2026 at 10.00 a.m. for further trial.
