1 week Ago By Sahan Weerasooriya
On the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday carnage, Archbishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to keep the promise he made at Katuwapitiya, Negombo, on 06 October, 2024, soon after the presidential election, to expose those behind the attacks.
Nearly 280 people perished in the Easter Sunday attacks, while nearly 500 were wounded. Addressing a gathering at the main memorial service held yesterday morning at St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, one of the churches targeted by the Easter Sunday suicide bombers, the Cardinal requested the President to submit the full report, pertaining to the Easter Sunday terror attacks, to the Parliament and make it public, set up an independent prosecutor’s office to oversee investigations and prosecutions, expose all those involved and prosecute them, regardless of their rank or position, fully implementation of the recommendations of the report submitted by the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the attacks, probe alleged ties between the Directorate of Military Intelligence and alleged terrorist leader Zahran Hashim, and also examine the claims made in the UK’s Channel 4 programme, including statements from key witness Asad Maulana, introduce new laws to dismantle the lawlessness and para-political structures that enabled the conspiracy behind the attacks and foster a new political culture where those in power serve the people, rather than ruling over them.
The Cardinal alleged that elements of the previous political leadership were continuing efforts to suppress the truth even today. The Cardinal claimed that a ‘para-state’ is operating within the country, controlled by various government entities, influenced by politically defeated forces. Cardinal Ranjith reaffirmed his hope that those responsible for the attacks should be brought to justice without delay.
The Cardinal found fault with the former Attorney General, Dappula de Livera, PC, for failing to act in spite of alleging that the Easter Sunday carnage was a grand conspiracy while accusing the powers that be of undermining public accountability. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith expressed concern that the prevailing legal framework and the inertia of certain officials have created serious obstacles to progress. Cardinal Ranjith emphasised that the Easter Sunday terror attacks remain a painful and unresolved tragedy.
He stressed that if the existing laws are insufficient to ensure justice, it is the government’s duty to change them — boldly and decisively. The Cardinal urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take firm action to eradicate all forms of anti-democratic and politically motivated activity, and to honour the promise he made in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, on 06 October, 2024 — to ensure that the blood of the innocent would not be forgotten, and to uncover the full truth behind the attacks. “It is our sincere hope, President, that you will not allow this national tragedy to be buried by time,’ Cardinal Ranjith said.
‘Justice must prevail, and all those involved must be held accountable.”.
