Date: 17th 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.
All the accused, except the 13th and 17th accused were present in Court. The 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th to 25th accused were represented, while the others appeared in person. The defence trial commenced today, and the Court decided to take the dock statements of the 20th to 25th accused first. Accordingly, the 20th to 25th accused and the 1st accused made their dock statements today. The dock statement of the 25th accused was made in English and translated by an English interpreter.
During the 20th accused’s dock statement, he stated that he was arrested by the CID on 21st May 2019 and was later informed that his search of the zion Church in December 2018 was the reason for his arrest. He denied having any involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks and stated that the Prosecution had failed to establish any credible evidence during the prosecution’s trial connecting him to the attacks. The 21st accused stated that he was arrested by the Army on 12th June 2019, that he had been working as a driver until his arrest by the Army, and that he had no involvement in any manner in the Easter Sunday attacks. The 22nd accused stated that he was arrested on 7th May 2019 on the allegation that, in March 2018, he had rented a house in Kandy for another individual, and further stated that he had no involvement in any manner in the Easter Sunday attack. The 23rd accused stated that he was arrested on the allegation that he had gone to attend a bayan in Nuwara Eliya, but that he could not attend the bayan since it had already finished, and denied any involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks. The 24th accused similarly stated that he was arrested on the allegation that he had gone to attend a bayan in Nuwara Eliya, but could not attend it since it had already finished, and further stated that no Police evidence had been called against him during the prosecution’s trial and that the Prosecution had failed to show any involvement on his part in the Easter Sunday attack. The 25th accused stated that the Prosecution had failed to present any credible evidence showing his involvement in the Easter Sunday attack and that, although all his devices had been taken, nothing related to the Easter attack had been found, and further stated that he had no involvement in any manner in the Easter Sunday attack.
The 1st accused stated during his dock statement that, although he had contacts with the suicide bombers, including Zaharan, Rilvan and Hasthun, and with the NTJ, and had attended the bayan sessions organized by them, he had never lectured about suicide attacks or killing persons, but had only mentioned that Muslims living in Sri Lanka faced a threat against Islam, and further stated that he had no involvement in any manner in the Easter Sunday attack. All the accused stated that they were not guilty of the charges made against them and pleaded to be acquitted. Except for the 6th, 10th, 14th and 16th accused, all the other accused submitted their lists of witnesses and lists of documents to the Court.
The next date and time for further trial is 18th August 2026 at 9.30 a.m.
