Date: 15th July 2026
Case No: HC (TAB) 2972/21
Court: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar)
Venue: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar), 2nd Floor, MCC Building, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
The case was taken up before the Trial-at-Bar with all accused present, except the 17th accused, who had passed away.
The 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 19th accused were represented by Mr. Kaneel Maddumage, AAL. The 12th and 13th accused were represented by Mr. Ravindu Yasas, AAL. The 20th to 25th accused were represented by Mr. Adam Hailey, AAL with Mr. Sanjeewa Ruwanpathirana, AAL The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and 16th accused appeared in person.
The Prosecution informed the Court that they seeking to lead evidence-in-chief of PW 1049, PW 1050, PW 1542, PW 1566, and PW 1567.
Thereafter, Prosecution Witness No. 1410, Aduma Lebbe Siyabdeen, who had given his van to a group of persons based in Dummalasuriya to travel to Nuwara Eliya for 3 days for the purpose of attending a religious discourse, gave evidence-in-chief and identified the 24th, 7th and 6th accused as being among the persons who joined to go to Nuwara Eliya. He further testified that he had also accompanied the group and that, they arrived at a place in Nuwara Eliya which looked like a restaurant, where the group got down, and after waiting for 30 minutes, they thereafter returned to Dummalasuriya on the same day. He was thereafter cross-examined by the 9th accused and Mr. Kaneel Maddumage, AAL appearing for the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 19th accused. The PW 1410 was re-examined by the Prosecution.
The Prosecution informed Court that PW 1050 could be temporarily released, and Court accordingly released those witnesses.
Thereafter, Prosecution Witness No. 1542, Dr. Raveendran, JMO, gave evidence-in-chief and testified that on 15th May 2019, he had submitted a Post-Mortem Report (PMR) in Mount Lavinia MC case bearing no. B 917/2019 relating to the death of Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed, who carried out the suicide bombing at Tropical Inn in Dehiwala and the said PMR was marked as ‘P 1001’. PW 1542 was neither cross-examined by any of the accused nor re-examined by the Prosecution.
Prosecution Witness No.1567, Dr. D.K. Wijewardane, JMO, gave evidence-in-chief and testified that on 21st June 2019, he had submitted a PMR relating to the death of Achchi Mohammadu Mohommadu Hasthun, who carried out the suicide bombing at St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, and the said PMR was marked as ‘P 1002’. He was further shown the CCTV footage and a photograph of the head of the bomber, which had already marked as P 56(4), and P 56(4)(B). PW 1542 was neither cross-examined by any of the accused nor re-examined by the Prosecution.
Thereafter, Prosecution Witness No. 1566, Dr. Senanayake, JMO, gave evidence-in-chief and testified that on 2nd May 2019, he had submitted a PMR in Colombo MC case bearing no. B 10193/01/2019 relating to the death of Alawdeen Ahmed Muad, who carried out the suicide bombing at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade and the said PMR was marked as ‘P 1003’. He was further shown a photograph of the head of the bomber, which had already marked as P 47. PW 1566 was neither cross-examined by any of the accused nor re-examined by the Prosecution.
Thereafter, Prosecution tendered copies of the statements of several witnesses to Court and to the Defence.
The matter was fixed to be called again on 16th July 2026 at 10.00 a.m. for further trial.
