Date: 21st 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. Mayuran Mahalingam AAL under the instructions of Mr. Sanjeewa Ruwanpathirana, AAL The 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and 16th accused appeared in person.
The witness PW-1707, Lahiru Kasun Wijesekara testified that in 2019 he was attached to the Kurunegala Crime Division. Following the Easter Sunday attacks, he attended the investigation conducted outside St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya on 21 April 2019. He stated that although he participated in the investigation on that day, he did not take custody of any productions because there was no proper arrangement to preserve and secure the recovered items immediately after the explosion. On 22 April 2019, he formally took custody of the productions recovered from outside the church. Subsequently, on 24 April 2019, together with the assistance of analytical officers, he examined and investigated the center of the explosion.
During his testimony, the witness identified P-56(4), being the CCTV footage, and P-56(4)(A)(7), being the photograph of the church entrance through which the suicide bomber entered the church. He further testified that all productions taken into custody were duly sealed and handed over to Police Constable Fernando (No. 82340) attached to the Negombo Police Station.
The witness also identified P-57(4), being the CD containing photographs of the Katuwapitiya scene. In addition, photographs of the Lourdes Cave were marked as P-1223, photographs of the concrete benches situated outside the church were marked as P-1224, and photographs depicting the location where steel balls were identified in the vicinity of the concrete benches were marked as P-1225. Further, Production Register No. 40/19(2) was marked as P-1226, Production Register No. 49/19(2) was marked as P-1234, Production Register No. 52/19 was marked as P-1235, and Production Register No. 56/19 was marked as P-1236. Additionally, Production Register Nos. 62/19 to 70/19 were marked as P-1237 to P-1245, respectively. Thereafter, the evidence of PW-1707 was concluded.
The witness PW-1603, ASP Dimuthu Suranga Samaranayake testified that at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks he was attached to the Special Task Force (STF) and is presently serving as the Zonal Commander in Pottuvil. He stated that he possesses both practical and theoretical qualifications in explosives, including the identification and deactivation of explosive devices, and had received specialized practical training from several foreign countries. He explained to Court the evolution of explosive devices, the methods used to manufacture bombs in the past and at present, and the procedures adopted in safely deactivating them. He further testified that he was one of the officers who participated in the operation to deactivate the explosive device discovered inside the van parked near St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade, on 22 April 2019. Although the bomb could not ultimately be successfully deactivated and subsequently exploded during the disposal operation, the officers were able to ensure that no loss of life or injuries occurred as a result of the explosion by taking the necessary safety precautions beforehand. During his evidence, the witness identified P-52, being the CCTV footage depicting the van containing the bomb, and P-53, being photographs of the explosion scene, the van, and the damaged wall.
Upon the conclusion of the examination-in-chief, the 9th Accused cross-examined the witness and inquired whether an ordinary police officer or a civilian could prepare such an explosive device. The witness replied that such a device could not be prepared without specialized knowledge of explosives. The 9th Accused further asked whether the witness had any prior knowledge that the Easter Sunday attacks were going to occur, to which the witness answered no.
During re-examination, the prosecution asked whether knowledge relating to the preparation of explosive devices could be acquired through the internet, books, or other publications. The witness replied in the affirmative. Thereafter, the evidence of PW-1603 was concluded.
The witness PW-1719, Lional Samaraweera, a Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), testified that he was assigned to investigate the suspected house belongs to Ismail Lebbe Abdul Raheem situated in Sengal Village In Samanthurai and stated that he took custody of 119 productions from Police Officer Nimal in connection with the investigation. After taking custody of those productions, he transported them to the Ampara Police Grounds, where they were duly secured. Thereafter, all productions were properly sealed and produced before the Magistrate’s Court of Samanthurai.
During his testimony, Production Receipt (TR) No. 65/19 was marked as P-1246. The witness also identified P-820, being a CD containing photographs of the house situated in the Sengal Village, Samanthurai.
The witness further testified that, out of the 119 productions recovered during the investigation, several productions were produced before Court from the records of the Samanthurai Magistrate’s Court, Case No. B-4596. These productions were shown to the witness in open court for identification and thereafter marked as exhibits. Accordingly, the external cover of Production Receipt No. 508/19 was marked as P-1247, while the box containing those productions was marked as P-1248. Thereafter, the important productions recovered under Production Receipt No. 508/19 were identified and marked collectively as P-1249 to P-1278. These exhibits included, among other items, a black kurta, an ISIS banner, five caps, new bottoms, nylon cable, black tape, electrical circuits, cans, polythene covers, and various other equipment and materials recovered during the investigation.
At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, PW-1730, PW-1942, and PW-1974 were issued summons to appear before Court on 22 July 2026. Thereafter, the proceedings for the day were concluded.
Next date is 22nd day of July 2026 at 10 a.m. for further Trial.
