2019 Easter Sunday Bombings Colombo


The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka were a series of coordinated suicide attacks on April 21, 2019, that targeted three churches and three luxury hotels. 

Key Facts
Casualties: The attacks killed 269 to 279 people and injured over 500. Victims included at least 45 foreign nationals from 15 countries.

Targets:
Churches: St. Anthony's Shrine (Colombo), St. Sebastian's Church (Negombo), and Zion Church (Batticaloa).

Hotels: Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand, and The Kingsbury in Colombo.

Perpetrators: A local Islamist extremist group, National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), was blamed for the attacks. Although ISIS claimed responsibility, local investigators found no evidence of their direct involvement. 

Recent Developments (February 2026)
High-Profile Arrest: On February 25, 2026, Sri Lankan authorities arrested Suresh Sallay, the former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS). He is charged with "conspiracy and aiding and abetting" the attacks.

Political Allegations: Recent investigations and a 2023 British broadcaster Channel 4 report alleged that Sallay and other officials may have allowed the attacks to proceed to influence the 2019 presidential election in favour of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

Legal and Investigative Outcomes
Government Negligence: In 2023, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka found former President Maithripala Sirisena and several senior officials negligent for failing to act on detailed intelligence warnings provided by India before the bombings.

Vatican Recognition: In April 2025, the Vatican named 167 of the victims as "heroes of faith".

Ongoing Trials: A trial against 25 people accused of masterminding the attacks began in 2021, but with over 23,000 charges filed, it is expected to continue for several years

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