Sri Lanka hands 220-year jail terms to 15 convicted of Easter bombings

Sri Lanka's High Court sentenced 15 men to 220 years in prison on Tuesday for their direct involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people. The court found all 14 accused guilty on all charges, including murder and terrorism, while the 15th defendant was found guilty of some charges. Nine others were acquitted.

The bombings targeted luxury hotels and churches, making it the worst terror attack in Sri Lanka's history. All accused are from the country's minority Muslim community. The trial, which lasted five years, involved 23,270 charges, the highest number in a single case. Former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay is currently in custody accused of orchestrating the bombings, allegations he denies.

The trial also investigated claims that state elements may have had links to the attackers, which supporters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa claim aimed to bolster their political support.