Sri Lanka, Sept. 23 -- The Colombo Special Trial-at-Bar sentenced 15 defendants to long prison terms yesterday regarding the main case concerning the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

The trial took place before High Court Judges Navaratne Marasinghe (President Judge), Sujeewa Nishshanka, and Ramanathan Kannan.

High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe read out the verdict, with a court translator providing a Tamil translation in open court.

Reading the verdict, the judge informed the court that 23,270 charges, including aiding, abetting, and conspiring with eight suicide bombers, including Zahran Hashim, were filed against 24 defendants, with Naufer Maulavi listed as the first defendant.

The verdict stated that although there were initial...