In a judicial decision today (25 February 2026), the Fort Magistrate’s Court ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to release gold, gems and other valuables seized from the family home of the two brothers who carried out suicide bombings during the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The court directed that the items be handed over to Iflal Ahmed, brother of Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed, within one week, after the CID failed to comply with earlier instructions to respond to the property claims.
Magistrate Isuru Netthikumara emphasized the importance of following due legal process, noting that the CID had ample time to raise objections and that failure to comply could result in contempt of court proceedings. The magistrate’s ruling reflects the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that claims to personal property are addressed fairly, even in matters connected to serious national security incidents.
Investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which targeted churches and luxury hotels in Colombo and killed hundreds, have highlighted the complex background of the attackers. Among the suicide bombers were two brothers from a prominent Colombo family. Reports indicate that Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed had past associations with political movements such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
