The hearing of testimony for the prosecution, in the case filed against 25 accused, including Naufer Moulavi, who have been charged with the explosion of bombs targeting Catholic Churches and star class hotels, on Easter Sunday (21 April 2019) and conspiracy to set off bombs, commenced before the Trial-at- Bar of the Colombo High Court, yesterday.
The High Court Bench comprised Judges Damith Thotawatta, Amal Ranaraja and Navaratne Marasinghe. ASG Haripriya Jayasundera, prosecuted on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department.
Before the commencement of the hearing of testimony, ASG Jayasundera delivered the opening statement and she requested the Court to mete out justice on behalf of the scores of victims, of the Easter Sunday carnage.
She then noted that during the hearing of testimony, the prosecution would seek to explain to the Court, the manner in which the 25 accused had spread extremist views across the country, prior to the blasts, along with how they had coaxed certain people to take part in the suicide blasts, the way in which they had gathered and collected explosives and how the carnage, had been planned meticulously.
ASG Jayasundera then stated that the prosecution will also be submitting to Court, statements that had been recorded from the 25 accused, as per Provisions of the PTA and the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, CCTV Camera Footage, along with evidence from specialists.
The prosecution informed the Bench, that in the aftermath of the carnage, the Attorney General, at the time, had filed charges against the 25 accused, before the High Court, on 10 August, 2021.
She further added that upon the demise of the 17th defendant in the trial, the prosecution had amended the charge sheet, filed against the defendants and that to date charges were being sustained against 24 of the accused.
Ishanka Hansamali, who had worked as a receptionist at the restaurant, ‘Table 1’ at Shangri-La Hotel and who had been named as the 943rd witness to the prosecution, then testified.
She mentioned that on the day, which was Easter Sunday, special cuisine had been put on display at the restaurant for both locals and tourists alike and observed that at around 10.15 a.m., the loud noise of an explosion had been heard, from the side of the restaurant.
The witness explained that the restaurant, where she had been stationed, had been separated into four sections called A, B, C and D and that the first explosion, had taken place between the C and D sections.
She added that after the first explosion, the people had begun to run helter-skelter having become afraid for their lives and that a second explosion had then taken place near the lift of the restaurant.
After that, the prosecution showed the witness, four photos and she then identified Zahran Hashim, who was in one of the photos and stated that on the day of the incident he had been behind her and that she had not known him as Zahran, at the time.
Later, further hearing of testimony was put off to today, (11) and the prosecution informed the Court, that they will be submitting CCTV Camera Footage, captured from the hotel premises, as evidence.
The Court had also summoned DIG P. Ampawila and Chief Inspector Saman Perera, to testify for the prosecution and the judges advised them to be present to give evidence, when noticed again.