Sri Lanka’s High Court on Tuesday convicted 14 of the 24 men charged in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. The three-judge panel found the group guilty on all counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. A 15th defendant was convicted on some charges, while nine others were acquitted. Sentencing was scheduled to take place later in the day. Security was tight at the courthouse, with dozens of police commandos deployed outside during the verdict reading.

The convicted men stood accused of providing support to suicide bombers who targeted three luxury hotels and three churches in a coordinated attack on April 21, 2019. Among the victims were 45 foreign nationals, including citizens from the United States, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Britain. Five Americans were killed, including a U.S. Commerce Department employee on official duty in Colombo.

All defendants are members of Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority. Originally, 25 men were charged, but one died while in custody before the trial. Prosecutors charged the suspects under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, filing a record 23,270 charges, the largest number ever brought in a single case in Sri Lanka. Mohamed Naufar, identified by prosecutors as the ringleader, was among those convicted on all charges. He was accused of coordinating support for the eight suicide bombers who carried out the attacks.

In addition to charges in Sri Lanka, three of the convicted men face terrorism-related accusations from U.S. authorities stemming from December 2020. The attacks were attributed to a homegrown Islamist extremist group. However, the case has been complicated by allegations of state involvement. Former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay is in custody, denying charges that he orchestrated the bombings. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has stated that investigations suggest Sallay collaborated with Islamist extremists prior to the attacks.

The broader investigation has raised questions about a purported strategy to exploit the security crisis for political gain. Prosecutors and some investigators contend the network of extremists and alleged state actors sought to create chaos that would enhance political support for the Rajapaksa family. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former defence chief, was elected president several months after the bombings. Officials have suggested the aim was to position him as the country’s best candidate to restore security amid turmoil.

While Sri Lanka’s last execution took place in 1976, it remains unclear whether the convicted men will face the death penalty or receive life sentences, given the country’s history of commuting capital punishment. The verdict marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to hold those responsible for one of Sri Lanka’s deadliest acts of terrorism accountable.