Fifteen men have been convicted and collectively sentenced to 220 years in prison. They face charges of murder, conspiracy, and illegal firearms possession linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka that targeted three churches and three hotels, killing over 200 people. The tragedy plunged believers across the island into deep pain and heartbreak.
Now, after seven long years of grief, hope, and relentless protests, Sri Lanka’s government has taken serious steps to investigate the tragedy and deliver justice to survivors, those they’ve lost, and the fragile Christian community.
“Finally, we have justice,” Catholic priest Jude Fernando states. “It has taken a long time to get to this point.”
Making Legal History
Following the historic 2022 “Aragalaya” protests, where citizens united to oust corrupt politicians, a new leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, took office. The situation remained unchanged. He offered no real hope or accountability to the survivors of the attacks.
Hope returned when Anura Kumara Dissanayake promised that justice would finally be served after a thorough investigation was conducted. Following his election victory, he stepped into office ready to take action.
By 2026, Dissanayake began fulfilling that promise. Among the key investigations, former president Maithripala Sirisena (president when the attacks happened) was heavily fined for his failure to prevent the violence.
In July 2026, the legal system made its most dramatic move yet. In a landmark judgment, former Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara, and former Defence Secretary, Hemasiri Fernando, were both sentenced to death.
The trial has etched itself into Sri Lankan legal history. Prosecutors filed an unprecedented 23,270 charges, the largest count ever in a single case, prosecuting the suspects under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Finding Closure
In the aftermath of the attacks, Open Doors local partners stood alongside the victims and families of Zion Church in Batticaloa. We provided motorcycles to believers who had lost theirs in the blast, offered livelihood support to families in need, and made regular visits to spend time with them, listen to them, and pray with them. In the years that followed, we continued to journey closely with several families who had lost loved ones in the attacks.
“After years of waiting, I welcome this significant verdict with gratitude for the legal accountability it finally brings,” one local partner says. “I pray it offers some closure to those who have carried this heavy burden for so long. Yet, no ruling can ever compensate for the loss of a loved one, and I urge everyone to remember the grieving families in prayer during this painful time. Crucial questions regarding the Easter Sunday Attacks also remain unanswered. As legal proceedings continue, I pray for truth, wisdom, courage, and integrity. Above all, may God grant the victims and their families comfort, strength, and lasting peace.”
Please pray
- 🙏Thank God for the breakthrough in the country, that justice is being served, and hope is being restored.
- 🙏 For wisdom for the government and its investigators
- 🙏 For survivors and healing from their trauma.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
