The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today decided to call for the defence of the accused in the case filed over the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attack.
The decision was made after the three-judge bench determined that the prosecution had established a case requiring the accused to present their defence.
The prosecution concluded its case following a trial spanning nearly four years, after Additional Solicitor General President’s Counsel Haripriya Jayasundara informed court that the prosecution had completed leading its evidence.
The case is being heard before a three-member High Court Trial-at-Bar comprising High Court Judges Damith Thotawatte, Sujeewa Nissanka and Ramanathan Kannan.
The Attorney General filed the case against 25 accused, including Naufer Maulvi and Sajid Maulvi, on 23,270 charges in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks carried out on April 21, 2019.
The charges include aiding and abetting the series of suicide bombings targeting churches and hotels and offences relating to the deaths and injuries caused by the attacks.
One of the accused died before the trial commenced, and proceedings continued against the remaining accused.
