Court Grants Bail to 12 Suspects Linked to Easter Sunday Attacks

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena has ordered the release on bail of 12 suspects who were arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the terrorists responsible for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The group includes 10 female and 2 male suspects.

They were initially arrested and remanded following investigations by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), which reported the matter to the court on December 11, 2020.

The suspects released on bail include Sinthi Satuna, Rauff Fatima Sara, Lebbe Rishana, Saligu Junai Teesya, Kasim Mataniya, Fatima Shahida, Ibrahim Sarda, Mohamed Irfan, and Mohamed Shafan.

During the latest court proceedings, officers from the Terrorism Investigation Division informed the court that their investigations had been completed and the case file had been referred to the Attorney General.

On April 9, they reported that proceedings would be concluded in accordance with the Attorney General’s instructions.

Counsel representing the suspects requested the return of mobile phones and other items seized during the arrests.

The TID stated that steps would be taken to return six mobile phones.

After considering all submissions, the Additional Magistrate ordered the release of the suspects and directed that the seized items be returned.