Sri Lanka: Two ex-officials sentenced to death over 2019 Easter bombings

Colombo, Sri Lanka – A court in Sri Lanka has sentenced two former security officials to death for their failure to prevent the deadly Easter Sunday bombings in 2019. The ruling comes after a new trial ordered by the country's Supreme Court.

The 2019 attacks targeted three luxury hotels and three churches, resulting in the deaths of 279 people, including 45 foreign nationals. Three Danish children were among the victims. While the Islamic State group claimed responsibility, investigations suggest local Islamists were behind the coordinated suicide bombings.

The two convicted individuals, identified as a former police chief and a high-ranking former defense ministry official, were found to have neglected their duty to avert the attacks. They were also convicted on several other charges, including gross negligence and murder.

Notably, the officials had been acquitted of the same charges by a three-judge panel in 2022. However, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in March, leading to the current verdict. The convicted men have the right to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Sri Lanka has not carried out an execution since 1976, maintaining an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty. This sentencing marks a significant development in the legal proceedings related to the devastating 2019 attacks.