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Message: <blockquote data-quote="topkollek" data-source="post: 31239576" data-attributes="member: 510150">The trial involves suspects accused in connection with the suicide bombings that targeted churches and hotels on April 21, 2019, killing over 270 people. It is proceeding before a Trial-at-Bar in the Colombo High Court (a special three-judge bench setup to handle serious cases like this).Key recent developments include:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The trial has shifted to daily hearings to fast-track proceedings after years of delays.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A special court was established in late 2025 to accelerate the process.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">As of early to mid-February 2026:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hearings are actively taking place, with witnesses being examined and cross-examined.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One suspect (among the 24–25 accused) is representing himself in court after defense lawyers collectively withdrew or stepped down amid the intensified pace.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">For example, reports from February 12, 2026, detail a suspect personally cross-examining a witness, and the court adjourning to the next day.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">There are mentions of the trial likely being further fast-tracked, with concerns raised about fairness due to changes in legal representation.</li> </ul></li> </ul>This main trial focuses on the direct perpetrators and related suspects who have been remanded. Separate cases or petitions (e.g., involving former officials like ex-Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando or intelligence failures) may have different timelines, but the core bombing trial is actively in session these days.<hr />The active trial before the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar (fast-tracked with daily hearings) involves 24 accused (originally 25 in the 2021 indictment), all civilians associated with the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) or its ISIS-linked network. They face over 23,000 charges related to conspiracy, aiding/abetting terrorism, murder, arms collection, and related offenses.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The accused are primarily NTJ members, relatives of suicide bombers (e.g., Y.M. Ibrahim, father of two bombers), logistics supporters, and alleged masterminds like Mohammad Naufer (Mohamed Naufer).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">No current or former intelligence officers—from the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), or other agencies—are indicted or defendants in this core criminal trial.</li> </ul>grok</blockquote>

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