Date: 27th 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 the proceedings, the Trial-at-Bar corrected the record relating to the voir dire inquiry of the 12th Accused and fixed 28th July 2026 for filing written submissions in respect of the inquiry.
PW-2308, Wickramasinghe Mudiyanselage Kumudu Senaviratne, a Sub-Inspector attached to the Fingerprint Registry, testified that on 22nd April 2019 he conducted a fingerprint examination at Nasina Villa, Keselwatta, Panadura, the residence where the alleged suicide bomber had been living. Police Sergeant Jayathilake photographed the scene during the examination. The fingerprint examination report was produced and marked as P-1571. The witness stated that latent fingerprints were developed and lifted from several items, including windows, plastic chairs, sellotape, a light bulb, and a commode.
During cross-examination by learned counsel Mr. Kaneel Maddumage, it was suggested that the witness’s fingerprint identification was based solely on his experience. The witness stated that his conclusions were based on his professional knowledge, specialized training, and practical experience in fingerprint examination. It was further suggested that it was impossible to distinguish between naturally deposited fingerprints and fingerprints obtained by force. The witness rejected that proposition. Counsel also suggested that items such as the light bulb and sellotape could have been brought from another location and therefore may not have originally been at the scene. The witness accepted that such a possibility could exist.
During re-examination, the prosecution asked whether fingerprint examination could distinguish between naturally deposited fingerprints and fingerprints obtained by force. The witness answered that such a distinction can be made through proper fingerprint examination.
PW-1445, Ranbanda Jayasundara, a retired Examiner of Questioned Documents (EQD), testified regarding Colombo Magistrate’s Court Case No. B/36363/08/20. His analytical report relating to the second accused was marked as P-1572, while specimen signature documents of the second accused, also known as “Gaffoor Mama,” were marked as P-1573 to P-1577. The final EQD report comparing the questioned signatures with the specimen signatures was marked as P-1578. The witness confirmed that the signatures appearing in the questioned documents matched the specimen signatures of the second accused. The witness was not cross-examined.
PW-1825, Pradeep Hemantha Galabodaarachchi an Assistant Registrar attached to the Fingerprint Registry, testified that on 25th April 2019 he conducted a fingerprint examination at Lucky Plaza. Police Constable Niroshan photographed the scene. The fingerprint examination report was marked as P-1579. The witness stated that 29 latent fingerprints were developed from several locations, including a mirror, almirah, bathroom door, television, glass window, cupboard, and cardboard box. The witness was not cross-examined.
PW-1826, Lasantha Niroshan, Police Constable No. 78672, testified that he photographed the suspected premises at Lucky Plaza on 25th April 2019. His Photographic Bureau Report was marked as P-1580. He stated that he photographed all 29 fingerprints developed during the fingerprint examination.The witness was not cross-examined.
PW-1822, Kamal Suwarnathilaka, Police Sergeant No. 31717, testified that he conducted fingerprint examinations at a house in Enderamulla, Wattala on 24th June 2019, and at a house on Janapada Mawatha, Daluwakotuwa on 25th June 2019. CID Sub-Inspector Dias participated in both investigations. At Enderamulla, 41 fingerprints were developed and recorded, and the examination report was marked as P-1581. Police Sergeant Ranasinghe photographed the fingerprints. At the Daluwakotuwa premises, five fingerprints were developed and recorded, and the report was marked as P-1582. According to the examination, fingerprints of the ninth accused were identified at the Enderamulla premises, while fingerprints of the tenth accused were identified at the Daluwakotuwa premises.
During cross-examination by the fourth accused, the witness admitted that although P-1581 recognized three categories of fingerprints visible, latent, and embedded the report did not specify the category of the 41 fingerprints recovered from Enderamulla. He nevertheless stated that they were latent fingerprints and agreed that this should ideally have been expressly recorded in the report. He further explained that such details were generally omitted as a matter of practice. The witness was also questioned regarding the absence of SI Dias’s name and signature from P-1581 despite his presence during the examination. The witness stated that although SI Dias attended the examination, they were unaware whether he was the investigating officer in charge, and therefore his name was not included in the report.
During cross-examination by the ninth accused, the witness stated that he could not say how many persons had entered the Enderamulla premises between the Easter Sunday bombings and 24th June 2019, when the fingerprint examination was conducted. He also stated that he was unaware whether CID officers had previously taken accused persons to the premises. The witness confirmed that a Recon box recovered from the premises was a movable object and accepted that fingerprints could have been deposited elsewhere before the box was brought to the location. There was no re-examination.
PW-2309, Nihal Ranasinghe testified that he photographed the fingerprints developed at the premises in Enderamulla and Janapada Mawatha, Daluwakotuwa. The Photographic Bureau Reports were marked as P-1583 and P-1584, respectively.
During cross-examination by Mr. Vimukthi Rajapaksha, learned junior counsel appearing with Mr. Kanil Maddumage, the witness stated that his responsibility was limited to photographing the fingerprints identified by the fingerprint officers. He confirmed that he neither considered the nature of the fingerprints nor possessed knowledge as to whether they were naturally deposited or obtained by force. He denied the suggestion that the fingerprint found on the Recon box had been obtained at the CID.
During cross-examination by the ninth accused, the witness stated that the keys to the examined houses were in the custody of CID Sub-Inspector Dias. There was no re-examination.
PW-1713, Nuwan Sripathi presently the Officer-in-Charge of Bemulla Police Station, testified that in 2019 he was attached to the Negombo Police Station. Following the Easter Sunday bomb blast at St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, on 21st April 2019, he attended the scene as part of the investigation. He recorded the locations of 32 deceased persons, documented the positions of the bodies, recovered the head and lower limbs of the suicide bomber identified as Hastun, collected the relevant productions, and ensured that they were properly preserved. The witness further testified that on 27th April 2019, relatives of Hastun attended the inquiry and identified the recovered head and other body parts. He assisted in the identification process. The witness was not cross-examined.
Summons were issued to PW-2311 and PW-2312 to appear on 28th July 2026, while PW-2314 and PW-2315 were summoned to appear on 30th July 2026. The proceedings concluded for the day, and the case was adjourned to 28th July 2026 at 10.00 a.m.
