Date: 04th August 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.
Court commenced at 10.00 a.m. as scheduled. Accused Nos. 1–12, 14–16 and 18–25 were present before Court. The 13th Accused was absent due to a medical appointment and was represented by Mr. Ravindu Yasas, attorney-at-Law. The 17th Accused is deceased.
The first witness of the day was P.W. 1503, Dr. S.D. Channa Perera, Judicial Medical Officer, who testified via Zoom from Jamaica. He is presently serving as the Senior Director of the Jamaica National Security Division and the Chief Senior Consultant in Forensic Medicine and Legal Medicine. After confirming the functionality of the remote communication facilities and establishing the witness’s expert qualifications, the prosecution commenced examination-in-chief. The witness testified regarding Post-Mortem Reports SR 1120/08/2019 and SR 1240/04/2019. These reports relate to the deaths of Mohamed Ibrahim Ilham, the suspected suicide bomber responsible for the explosion at the Shangri-La Hotel, and Mohamed Ibrahim Inshaf Ahmed, the suspected suicide bomber responsible for the explosion at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.
He explained the forensic examination conducted on the recovered human remains. He also expressed his expert opinion regarding the injuries sustained and the probable causes of death. Examination-in-chief concluded without any cross-examination or re-examination.
The second witness was P.W. 1850, Chief Inspector Yakupitiyage Raja Ravindra Wimalasiri of the Police Sports Division. The witness testified regarding the investigation conducted to establish the identity of the Cinnamon Grand suicide bomber. He explained that CCTV footage obtained from the Cinnamon Grand Hotel on 22 and 23 April 2019 was examined together with footage obtained from Bandaranaike International Airport. Statements were also recorded from the suspect’s wife. According to the witness, although the suspect had informed his family that he was travelling overseas, CCTV footage revealed that after his family had departed from the airport, he left the airport premises in a different taxi. The witness further testified that he recovered a pen drive which had previously been handed over by the suspect to his wife. Information obtained from that device significantly advanced the investigation.
The witness stated that these investigations ultimately led to the arrest of Mohamed Haris (16th Accused) on 1 May 2019. He further stated that the suspect attempted to flee at the time of arrest and was restrained and apprehended by the investigating officers.
Upon conclusion of examination-in-chief, the 4th Accused cross-examined the witness. The 16th Accused initially commenced cross-examination but subsequently withdrew all questions. No other accused conducted cross-examination.
Thereafter, the prosecution called P.W. 1627, the present Deputy Inspector General of Police, Western South, who was serving as the Superintendent of Police in charge of the Ampara Division in 2019. At the commencement of his evidence, the learned Senio Assistant Solicitor General informed Court that P.W. 2163 referred to the same witness. An application was therefore made to amend the witness list by deleting the duplicate witness number. The learned Trial Judge allowed the application.
During examination-in-chief, the witness gave evidence regarding investigations conducted at two safe houses situated in Sammanthurai and the Ampara area. He described the explosive-related productions recovered from those locations, all of which were identified in open court. The witness also testified regarding the investigation into the explosion at a safe house located at the Bolivarian Tsunami Village in Sainthamaruthu.
He stated that repeated explosions occurred between approximately 7.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. Gunshots were also heard. Accordingly, he and his team proceeded to the location at about 11.00 p.m. Owing to darkness, the investigation was postponed until the following morning.
When investigations resumed, the officers recovered the bodies of nine deceased persons. They also found a surviving woman and a young girl. The witness explained the manner in which the investigation was conducted and identified the explosive-related productions recovered from the scene.
Upon completion of examination-in-chief, the 9th Accused cross-examined the witness. Questions were directed mainly towards the timing of the explosions, the surrounding environmental conditions, the duration of the investigation, and the possibility of survivors remaining alive following such explosions. No other accused cross-examined the witness, and there was no re-examination.
Following the luncheon adjournment, Court resumed at 2.00 p.m.
The prosecution then called P.W. 1440, Mr. Alex Roshan Fernando, Additional Senior Government Analyst. The witness gave extensive expert evidence regarding the forensic examinations conducted at several Easter Sunday bombing locations, including St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, Zion Church, Batticaloa, and St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya.
He explained the examinations conducted at each location and described the explosive-related productions recovered from those scenes. Those productions were identified in open court.
Based on his forensic examinations, the witness expressed the opinion that there was an extremely high probability that all three attacks had been carried out by suicide bombers wearing body-borne explosive devices. He further stated that the explosions at Zion Church and St. Sebastian’s Church were completely successful detonations.
The witness also testified that urea nitrate had been used as the principal explosive material. According to him, this was the first known instance in Sri Lanka where urea nitrate had been used as a high explosive. Being an expert in explosives, he further explained technical matters relating to blast limits, shock waves, heat effects and other scientific aspects of the explosions. The witness also testified regarding the recovery of a large cache of explosives from Wanathavilluwa on 17 March 2019. He described the recovery of four baskets containing urea nitrate, four poly-sacks containing explosive materials and detonators, together with other related items. He further explained how such materials could be assembled and used to manufacture improvised explosive devices.
Upon completion of examination-in-chief, the 4th Accused cross-examined the witness. Questions were directed towards blast limits, the quantity of urea nitrate required to cause such explosions, the blast radius at St. Anthony’s Shrine, and whether the explosive used was a high explosive.
The 9th Accused thereafter cross-examined the witness regarding the explosives recovered from Wanathavilluwa. He questioned the witness as to whether he was aware that approximately five kilograms of the recovered explosives were allegedly missing by the time the productions reached the Government Analyst’s Department. The witness replied that he had no knowledge of the matter.
The witness was also asked whether he was aware that Sara Jasmine had died in the Sainthamaruthu (Volivarian) explosion. He answered in the negative. No other accused conducted cross-examination. Following brief re-examination, the witness was discharged.
Thereafter, the prosecution sought to mark a statement recorded from the 12th Accused as Production P-919. The defence objected, and the document was provisionally marked as M1.
After considering submissions made by both parties, the learned Trial Judge held that the statement had been given voluntarily and was not obtained under compulsion. Accordingly, the Court overruled the defence objection and permitted the prosecution to mark the statement as Production P-919.
Upon the request of the 9th Accused, the Court granted the defence an opportunity to complete the portion marking of the admitted statements for defence purposes in consultation with the Mudaliyar.
Finally, the Court directed that summons be issued on P.W. 2036 for 6 August 2026. Proceedings were adjourned at approximately 8.20 p.m. until 10.00 a.m. on the following day.
Next date: 05/08/2026 for further Trial.
