The Chief Justice has nominated a Trial-at-Bar bench to hear the cases filed against 25 accused including, Naufer Mawlawi, in connection with the Easter Sunday Terrorist attacks.
Accordingly, a Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Damith Thotawatta(President), Amal Ranaraja and NawaratneMarasinghe has been appointed by the Chief Justice.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against 25 accused including Naufer Mawlawi, Sajid Maulawi, Mohammed Milhan, SadikAbdullah, Aadam Lebbe alias Gafoor Mama, Mohammed Sanasdeen and Mohammed Rizwanin respect of eight terrorist attacks at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, the Kingsbury Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Zion Church in Batticaloa and Tropical lnn in Dehiwela.
The Attorney General has charged the 25 accused on 23,270 counts in connection with the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks that occurred on April 21, 2019, that killed 269 people.
The charges were filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for conspiring to murder, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition, and attempted murder.
The Attorney General had earlier filed indictments against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP PujithJayasundara in connection with their criminal negligence and failure to prevent Easter Sunday Terrorist attacks.
