Date: 23rd 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.
At the commencement of proceedings, summons were issued on PW-1713, PW-1720 and PW-1445, directing them to appear before the Court on 27 July 2026.
The witness PW-1909, Sharada Nivantha, who had commenced his evidence on the previous day, continued. The witness stated that on 25 April 2019 too, he participated in the investigation at the Shangri-La Hotel premises and recovered several productions. The productions listed under PR-67/19 to PR-69/19 were marked as P-1452 to P-1454. These productions consisted of a Reebok shoe and parts of the blasted bomb. The witness further stated that on 26 April 2019, he again visited the Shangri-La Hotel premises for further investigations. He had visited the location on several occasions as two explosions had occurred there. During the visit on 26 April 2019, further productions were recovered, including a sample taken from the relevant location. These were listed under PR-71/19 and PR-72/19 and marked as P-1455 and P-1456. The witness thereafter prepared a seven-page draft containing details of the investigation and the locations from which the productions had been recovered. The said draft was marked as P-1457. It was subsequently forwarded to the Government Analyst together with the duly listed productions. The witness’s affidavit was also produced and marked as P-1458.
Further productions, including a burnt helmet, wallet, bicycle, steel balls, black-coloured shirt, peaked cap, remaining parts of a bag following the blast, remaining parts of the bomb, soil samples and remaining parts of a blasted mobile phone, were marked as P-1459-PW-1477 thereafter PW-1909 was concluded. No cross-examination was conducted.
The witness PW-1501, Ruhul Haque, a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), presently attached to Gampaha Hospital gave evidence. In 2019, he was serving as a JMO at Colombo Hospital. The witness gave evidence concerning the medical and post-mortem examinations conducted in connection with the deceased and injured persons following the explosions of 21 April 2019. He explained the nature and characteristics of explosions, including the manner in which a blast occurs, the types of injuries that may be sustained by a suicide bomber, and the nature and extent of injuries that may be caused to persons in the vicinity of an explosion. The witness stated that 21 April 2019 was a Sunday and he was not on duty on that day. He nevertheless subsequently became involved in the relevant medical examinations.
The witness further stated that he conducted the post-mortem examination of Mohammed Mubarak, who was identified as one of the suicide bombers. A DNA report related to the deceased was obtained, following which the relevant post-mortem documentation was completed. The post-mortem report was marked as P-1481, and the report had been prepared by JMO L. M. L. Silva. Thereafter, the evidence of PW-1501, Ruhul Haque was concluded and the next witness was called.
The witness PW-1435, Kulupage Kumudu Apsara, a Government Examiner of Questioned Documents attached to the Government Analyst’s Department was the next witness. The witness gave evidence regarding the examination and identification of signatures. She stated that, pursuant to an order received from the Negombo Magistrate’s Court in Case No. L-95839/19, she conducted the relevant examination related to signatures and prepared Report No. H-612/19 dated 17 February 2020. The witness further stated that the relevant order dated 10 October 2019, together with the sealed cover containing the order and specimen documents, was handed over to the officer who brought the said documents. The relevant Sandesha related to the receipt and transmission of the documents was marked as P-1482. Based on the said Sandesha, the witness’s Questioned Documents Examination (EQD) Report was produced and marked as P-1483. The witness explained the scientific methodology used in examining a questioned signature. She stated that the purpose of the examination is to determine whether a questioned signature is genuine, simulated or forged, or produced by another method. For this purpose, the questioned signature is compared with known specimen signatures. She explained that the examiner considers the individual characteristics and patterns of a person’s handwriting and signature. Although minor variations may occur, a person cannot ordinarily completely change the individual characteristics and patterns of their natural handwriting. The questioned signature is therefore compared with the specimen signatures to identify corresponding characteristics. The witness further explained that internationally accepted procedures and standards, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ASTM standards, are followed in such examinations. She also referred to the examination of the formation and angles of letters and pressure patterns. A Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) is among the equipment used for such examination. The witness stated that the order received from the Magistrate’s Court was subsequently marked as P-1488. The specimen signatures contained in the documents obtained pursuant to the said order had previously been marked as P-816 to P-818. Upon comparing the questioned signature with the specimen signatures contained in P-816 to P-818, the witness concluded that the questioned signature corresponded with the specimen signatures and confirmed that it belonged to Mohamed Rizkan Mohamed Anwar.
During cross-examination, the Fourth Accused questioned the witness as to whether, without using scientific methods and scientific equipment, she could merely observe a signature and state that the signatures were different. The witness responded that her opinion was not based merely on looking at the signatures, but was given only after conducting the examination using scientific methods and scientific observations. The cross-examination was thereafter concluded
Thereafter, the witness PW-1436, B. J. Bandaranayake, a Government Analyst gave evidence. The relevant Government Analyst’s Report was produced and admitted in evidence undersection 420 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979, with the consent of the Accused.
The witness PW-1436, Ruwandita Jayawanti Bandaranayake, a retired Government Analyst who had previously worked in the DNA Analysis Unit of the Government Analyst’s Department gave evidence next. The witness explained the nature of DNA, the scientific basis of DNA identification and comparison, and how DNA profiles may be distinguished, including in relation to twins. She also explained the equipment and scientific techniques used in DNA analysis, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the Genetic Analyzer. She described how DNA profiles are generated, the resulting patterns are identified, and profiles obtained from different samples are compared. The witness stated that productions and relevant court orders had been received from the Negombo Magistrate’s Court in Case No. L-95839/19 and the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in Case No. B-10193/19. In relation to the Negombo case, a copy of the relevant Sandesha was marked as P-1489. The witness further stated that the production list contained in the box was assigned reference number CB-1506/19. The productions received included a hairband, face mask, pair of slippers, trousers, T-shirts, sarong, toothbrushes, razor, sanitary pads, bra and other items, which were received for DNA examination. Following the examination, the witness prepared a five-page DNA Report bearing reference CD-1500/19, dated 3 March 2021, which was forwarded to the Negombo Magistrate’s Court. The said report was marked as P-1490. The witness further testified regarding Colombo Magistrate’s Court Case No. B-11399/19. On 24 December 2019, she participated in obtaining biological samples from 40 suspects. The samples were obtained by taking buccal swabs from the inside of the cheeks. The samples were received under reference number CV-2002/19. In relation to P-1490, the witness identified the trousers listed as Item No. 41 as being associated with Mohamed Hasthun, who was identified as the suicide bomber involved in the explosion at Katuwapitiya, Negombo. The witness further stated that, in relation to productions received pursuant to the order of the Fort Magistrate’s Court, the production box was assigned reference number CB-656/19. Productions were received on seven occasions, and relevant Sandeshas were issued in respect of the receipt of those productions. The Sandesha issued by the witness on the third occasion, related to the productions received on the third day, was marked as P-1491. The productions received under CB-656/19 included rubber slippers, sports shoes, a helmet, wool band, hair samples, a white-coloured item, a white-coloured helmet, toothbrush, comb and several hair samples/remains. The witness thereafter examined the relevant productions and prepared a seven-page DNA Report under the same reference number, CB-656/19, related to the third set of productions. The said report was marked as P-1492. The productions related to the DNA examination, together with the production box and separate covers containing the productions, were thereafter marked from P-1493 to P-1551. No cross-examination was conducted.
Thereafter, the witness PW-1942, Ibrahim Nilabdeen, who is presently serving at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) gave evidence. His police serial number is 532261. The witness stated that on 21 April 2019, he participated in investigations concerning several suspects in connection with the incidents that occurred on that date. He further stated that on 27 August 2020, he was serving at the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), SIU Unit 2. On that day, together with Police Inspector Ratnayake and Police Constable Pradeepan, he went to record statements from Sadik Abdulla, the Fourth Accused, and Gafur Mama, the Second Accused. The witness stated that he personally recorded the statement of Mohamed Ibrahim Sadik Abdulla, while Police Constable Pradeepan recorded the statement of Gafur Mama. The statement of the Fourth Accused was recorded in the Tamil language and consisted of five pages. The said pages were marked as P-1552 to P-1556. The witness stated that the Fourth Accused had placed his signature on the statement. The witness further stated that the handwritten Tamil statement of the Fourth Accused was obtained for the purpose of comparing his handwriting with handwriting appearing on another document, namely Rilwan’s admission card. The relevant handwriting conveyed, in English, the meaning that “the police investigation is unnecessary.” The purpose of obtaining the handwritten statement was to obtain a known handwriting specimen and determine whether the handwriting appearing on the relevant document belonged to Sadik Abdullah or to another person. Mr. Vimukthi Rajapaksha, Junior Counsel appearing for Mr. Kaneel Maddumage, and the 4th accuased cross examined the witness.
Thereafter, the proceedings for the day were concluded. The matter was adjourned and fixed for further proceedings on 24 July 2026 at 10.00 a.m.
