Author: TELO Admin

In a significant move to expedite the delivery of justice for the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019, the long-running trial has shifted into an accelerated phase, with proceedings now scheduled to be heard daily at a newly-designated Court Complex in Colombo 7.

The inaugural sitting at the new premises commenced yesterday (26) at 1:45 p.m. before a Trial-at-Bar Bench chaired by High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe. The case was adjourned to resume at 9:45 a.m. today (27).

Naufer Moulavi, Sajid Moulavi, Hayathu Mohammadu Ahammadu Milhan, Mohamed Ibrahim Sadiq Abdul Haq, Adam Lebbe alias Gafoor, Mohammad Samsuddin, and Mohammad Rizwan, among a total of 24 accused, have been indicted by the Attorney General in this case.

Following a directive by the Chief Justice to fast-track the case, the Trial-at-Bar has been relocated to the residence formerly occupied by the late MP Sanath Nishantha. The special High Court is now operational at No. 409, Section 76, Bauddhaloka Mawatha.

The Attorney General filed the main indictment on 10 August 2021, levelling a staggering 23,270 charges against 25 suspects. The charges encompass conspiracy, preparation, and execution of the coordinated suicide bombings, aiding and abetting, collecting arms, the murder of 268 individuals, and causing injury to 594 others.

Due to the sheer volume of the indictment, reading the full list of charges in Open Court was deemed impractical, with estimates suggesting it would require nearly three years. Consequently, the Attorney General’s Department, the defence, and the Court agreed to a shortened procedure, which was concluded in February 2023.

Currently, 24 accused remain in the dock following the death of one suspect, Yasin Bawa Abdul Rauf, while in custody.

None of the accused have pleaded guilty to the charges. Furthermore, they have refused to acknowledge that the explosions at the eight targeted locations were suicide attacks.

To date, investigators have recorded nearly 8,000 statements and analysed approximately 100,000 sets of telephone data. Between 60 and 70 witnesses have testified so far.

The trial was formerly limited to eight days of sittings per month to accommodate the schedules of the presiding judges — Justices Damith Thotawatta and Amal Ranaraja — who have since been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Additionally, proceedings were slowed by an appeal filed by the 15th suspect, challenging a High Court ruling on the admissibility of a confession. While this appeal is pending before the Supreme Court, both the prosecution and defence have agreed to proceed with the remaining evidence to prevent further stagnation.

General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of India, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 1–2 December 2025, in a move that underscores deepening defence ties between the two nations.

The Indian Army announced that the visit aims to reinforce India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, focusing on partnership, stability, and cooperation.

According to report from India, this engagement highlights India’s role as a reliable security partner committed to supporting Sri Lanka in capability-building and capacity enhancement across multiple defence domains.

The visit is expected to strengthen Army-to-Army engagement through expanded opportunities for training, professional exchanges, joint exercises, and discussions on operational best practices.

Meetings with Sri Lankan political and military leadership will also facilitate dialogue on emerging regional and global security challenges, particularly as the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) face evolving strategic pressures.

A Islamist terror suspect questioned over the 2019 bombings in Sri Lanka is reportedly seeking asylum in the UK, according to British media reports.

The unnamed Sri Lankan man, who has been granted anonymity, was detained over allegations he was involved in the Easter bombings which killed 269 people including six Brits.

He was arrested in 2022 but released on bail before he left his home country and travelled to the UK the same year to claim asylum, the Telegraph reports.

It is understood that he denies the allegations. Seeking asylum, he told an immigration panel that police attended his family home and he feared persecution if he returned.

The 2019 attacks were carried out on Easter Sunday as congregations gathered for services. Eight blasts, triggered by suicide bombers, hit a series of churches as well as luxury hotels and homes across Sri Lanka.

Britons Anita Nicholson, 42, and her children, Alexander, 14 and Annabel, 11, were amongst those who died in an explosion at the Shangri-la Hotel in Colombo.

The asylum claim for the man and his wife was initially rejected by the Home Office, but the unnamed man was successful in an appeal against the decision at an upper immigration tribunal. His case will now be reheard.

An upper tribunal judgment said: “[The Sri Lankan] had applied for protection on his own behalf and on behalf of his wife.

“He says that on Jan 5 2022 he was arrested and questioned in connection with the Easter bombings, which took place in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019.

“He says that he was released only on the payment of a substantial bribe and was subject to reporting conditions. He left Sri Lanka for the United Kingdom on Sept 2 2022 and an arrest warrant was issued thereafter on Sept 15 2022.

“He says that the police have attended his family home in Sri Lanka, and he fears persecution if returned to Sri Lanka.”

The migrant argued that the first-tier tribunal made mistakes and that the judge was “biased,” and that the “arrest warrant was not issued until after he left Sri Lanka, which the judge failed to appreciate.”

Claire Burns, the deputy upper tribunal judge, found that the previous hearing had made a series of errors, including it being missed that the man had been released on bail following an arrest warrant.

Last week, the British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced major reforms to the asylum system which included making refugee status temporary and giving ministers powers to return migrants to their home country once it was deemed safe.

The facts of the man’s case will be reheard at the first-tier tribunal at a later date.

Source: The Standered

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has urged Canada to restrict Tamil political activity linked to self-determination during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Catherine Martin.

Minister Herath said he asked the High Commissioner to convey to Ottawa “the need to prevent activities that promote separatist ideologies in Sri Lanka, including the recognition of LTTE insignia, and activities aimed at fostering divisions among the ethnic communities in Sri Lanka.”

He noted that political organising by Tamil diaspora groups in Canada undermines what the government describes as its efforts to strengthen national unity.

High Commissioner Martin responded that the LTTE remains a banned organization in Canada and that the federal government “does not recognise such insignia associated with the LTTE or separatist ideologies.”

The High Commissioner had also reaffirmed Canada’s support for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved proposed amendments to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021, aimed at enhancing tax incentives, strengthening regulatory supervision and restructuring institutional mechanisms.

The decision follows Cabinet approval granted at meetings held on 7 July 2025 and 13 October 2025 to proceed with changes designed to further encourage investment while improving oversight and governance within the Colombo Port City framework.

Accordingly, the draft Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has received clearance from the Attorney General. The Cabinet has now approved a resolution submitted by the President, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development, to publish the draft amendments in a Government Gazette.

The Bill will subsequently be presented to Parliament for approval and concurrence.