The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar has ruled that the confession made to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by Naufer Maulavi, the alleged spiritual leader of Zahran Hashim’s group and the first accused in the Easter Sunday attacks case, was given voluntarily.
The ruling was delivered on 23 June by a three-judge bench comprising Presiding Judge Navaratne Marasinghe and High Court Judges Ramanathan Kannan and Sujeewa Nissanka.
Legal observers say the decision marks a significant development in the prosecution of the Easter Sunday attacks case, which involves 24 accused.
Key Evidence in the Prosecution
According to prosecutors, Naufer Maulavi’s confession contains important details about the individuals involved in the Easter Sunday attacks and the planning behind them. With the court determining that the statement was made voluntarily, it can now be admitted as evidence in the trial, including against individuals named in the confession.
Maulavi gave the statement to Assistant Superintendent of Police Vijitha Perera at CID headquarters on 11 November 2019.
Before making its decision, the Trial-at-Bar conducted a voir dire inquiry to determine whether the confession had been made voluntarily. After considering the evidence presented, the court concluded that the statement was given without coercion.
Confessions of Four Accused Upheld
The court has now ruled that the confessions of four accused persons were made voluntarily:
- First accused: Muhammad Ibrahim Mohamed Naufar, also known as Abu Sayyid, Abu Sarim and Naufer Maulavi
- Fourth accused: Mohamed Ibrahim Sadiq Abdullah
- Ninth accused: Mohamed Ramish Mohamed Sajith
- Eleventh accused: Khalib Sameer
However, the court found that the confession of the eighth accused was not voluntary.
Ruling on 18th Accused Due on 30 June
The court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on 30 June regarding whether the confession of the 18th accused, Razik Raza Hussain, was given voluntarily.
Previously, the Trial-at-Bar unanimously ruled that a confession made by the 11th accused, Khalib Sameer, before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate in 2019 was also voluntary. That statement, which related to the planning of the attacks, was admitted as evidence for the prosecution.
Although Sameer’s lawyers argued that the confession had been obtained under duress, the court rejected those claims following a voir dire inquiry.
The court also ruled on 29 May 2026 that the confession of the ninth accused had been made voluntarily.
Further Proceedings
Documents required to begin the voir dire inquiry relating to the 12th accused have now been submitted to both the court and the defence. Meanwhile, evidence proceedings in the voir dire inquiry concerning the 25th accused have been temporarily suspended.
Case Against 24 Accused
The Attorney General has filed indictments against 24 individuals, including Naufer Maulavi, in connection with the coordinated suicide bombings carried out on 21 April 2019. The attacks targeted churches and major hotels in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, killing more than 250 people.
The prosecution is being led by a team that includes Additional Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara, Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana de Silva, and State Counsel Shakthika Jagodaarachchi and Akila Dalpadadu.
The defence is represented by attorneys Kanil Maddumage, Lawrence Adams Halley and Lakshman Perera.
( Translated from The Leader)