Rishad Bathiudeen
Member of Parliament for Vanni District · All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC)
2
Legal matters
1
Investigations
0
Charges pending
0
Acquitted / dismissed
Next in court
Not publicly confirmed
Rishad Bathiudeen's case has an unclear or disputed status in public reporting. Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen were arrested by the CID on 24 April 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over allegations of aiding and abetting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombers, and were further detained for 90 more days from 27 April 2021 (approximately 111 days held in total). On 2 November 2022, the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court ordered his release from the case on the Attorney General's advice that the charges could not be carried forward for insufficient evidence. Some reporting describes this outcome as an acquittal; the mechanism reported is the Attorney General declining to proceed rather than a trial verdict, and the precise procedural characterization (discharge vs. formal acquittal) has not been independently confirmed against a primary court record. No arrest, charge, indictment, or finding of wrongdoing stands against Bathiudeen in this matter following his November 2022 release. This case is legally distinct from the September 2026 investigative reference in the separate Suresh Sallay proceeding (matter rishad-bathiudeen-02) and must not be merged with, or treated as reopening, it.
Rishad Bathiudeen legal timeline
- 2 November 20222019 Easter Sunday attacks case (Prevent…
Discharged
The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court ordered his release from the case on the Attorney General's advice that the charges could not be carried forward for insufficient evidence. Some media reports describe this as an acquittal; Nadu records it as a discharge pending confirmation of the precise procedural mechanism against a primary court record.
Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- 24 April 20212019 Easter Sunday attacks case (Prevent…
Arrested
Arrested by the CID, along with his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen, over alleged aiding and abetting of the 2019 Easter Sunday attackers.
Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
Rishad Bathiudeen court cases
2
Cases Total
1
Under Investigation
1
Status Unclear
2019 Easter Sunday attacks case (Prevention of Terrorism Act arrest)
Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen were arrested by the CID on 24 April 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over allegations of aiding and abetting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombers, and were further detained for 90 more days from 27 April 2021 (approximately 111 days held in total). On 2 November 2022, the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court ordered his release from the case on the Attorney General's advice that the charges could not be carried forward for insufficient evidence. Some reporting describes this outcome as an acquittal; the mechanism reported is the Attorney General declining to proceed rather than a trial verdict, and the precise procedural characterization (discharge vs. formal acquittal) has not been independently confirmed against a primary court record.
What’s happened
No arrest, charge, indictment, or finding of wrongdoing stands against Bathiudeen in this matter following his November 2022 release. This case is legally distinct from the September 2026 investigative reference in the separate Suresh Sallay proceeding (matter rishad-bathiudeen-02) and must not be merged with, or treated as reopening, it.
- Court
- Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced
Investigative reference in the Suresh Sallay Easter attacks proceeding
During proceedings against former State Intelligence Service Director Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay and other suspects over the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, prosecutors have twice referenced Bathiudeen in court in connection with the investigation: a report dated 11 September 2026 said he was 'named in the investigations' over an allegation that he helped bomber Zahran Hashim travel to India, sourced to a CID 'B report' submitted around 2 September 2026; and on 15 September 2026, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told the court that investigators were examining whether political and logistical support had been given to people connected to the attackers, referencing Bathiudeen and a Mannar businessman. Neither report states that Bathiudeen has been named a formal suspect in this proceeding, and reporting states he has not been questioned by the CID on this. Bathiudeen has denied the claims, saying he never met Zahran Hashim.
What’s happened
This is an investigative reference only - no arrest, suspect designation, charge, or finding of wrongdoing has been reported against Bathiudeen in this proceeding. It must not be merged with, or treated as reviving, the separate 2021-2022 PTA case (matter rishad-bathiudeen-01) from which he was released in November 2022 - that was a different case with its own distinct legal disposition.
- Court
- Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced
Sources (2)
Rishad Bathiudeen political career
Ministerial positions
Cabinet Minister (multiple portfolios across successive governments, including Industry and Commerce)
Until 2019
Other political positions
Member of Parliament for Vanni District
2001–?
Rishad Bathiudeen party history
Elected in 2001 through the SLMC/United National Front electoral arrangement; later split from the SLMC.
Sources (1)
Founded the ACMC in 2005 after splitting from the SLMC and remains its leader. The ACMC participated in the UPFA governing alliance, which it left in December 2014, and later became a coalition partner within the SJB alliance for the 2020 election - see electoral_affiliations for that alliance relationship, which is not itself a change of formal party membership.