Court orders to release valuables linked to Shangri-La bomber

2026-02-26 - 05:18

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been ordered to release within one week a stock of gold jewellery, gems, and other valuables seized from the Dematagoda residence of Easter Sunday bombing suspect – Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed. The order was issued yesterday (Feb. 25) by Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththi Kumara. Accordingly, the Magistrate directed the CID to hand over the items to Ilham’s brother, who had claimed ownership through his legal representatives. The Magistrate stressed that failing to implement a court order for an extended period while seeking advice from the Attorney General constituted an erroneous course of action. He noted that a predecessor Magistrate had issued the relevant order after granting the CID a reasonable time to lodge objections. He further warned that continued disregard of judicial orders could result in legal action being instituted against the CID for contempt of court. During the coordinated Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019, an explosion occurred at a residence in Mahawila Gardens, Dematagoda, where Ilham had been residing. Ibrahim was one of the suicide bombers who carried out the attack on the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. Gems, gold jewellery and other valuables seized from the residence had been taken into CID. A request for their release was made through legal counsel before the court by Iflaal Ahmed, brother of Ibrahim and Inshaf Ahmed (who died in the bomb explosion at the Dematagoda residence), claiming ownership of the items. Court Proceedings “In circumstances where reasonable time has been granted to raise objections and no cause has been shown, and where prior Court orders have not been acted upon, this Court is compelled to direct that the goods be released within one week,” the Magistrate stated. Before the order, the CID informed the court that the valuables were currently deposited in the vault of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) for safekeeping and sought additional time. However, the Magistrate reiterated that the items must be released within a week in accordance with the existing order. (Source: Aruna)