Sri Lanka court convicts 15 men for 2019 Easter Sunday bombings

On Easter Sunday, April 21 2019, a series of coordinated bombings struck three churches and three luxury hotels across Sri Lanka, killing at least 270 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks, which unfolded within a span of minutes, targeted St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, and St. John’s Church in Batticaloa, as well as the Shangri‑La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotels in the capital. Authorities quickly identified the perpetrators as members of an extremist network linked to the Islamic State, and the bombings were described as the deadliest terrorist act in the country’s history.

In the aftermath, Sri Lankan security forces launched extensive investigations, arresting dozens of suspects and tightening airport and port controls. The government declared a state of emergency, and international leaders offered condolences and assistance. The incident prompted a reassessment of the nation’s counter‑terrorism strategies and heightened security protocols at public and religious sites, while families of the victims continue to seek answers and support.