Author: TELO Admin

Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith accuses that elements of the previous political leadership are continuing efforts to suppress the truth surrounding the deadly Easter Sunday terror attacks, through certain government institutions even today.

The Cardinal made these remarks during the main memorial service held this morning (April 21) at St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, marking the sixth anniversary of the coordinated bombings that claimed over 250 lives in 2019.

He alleged that a ‘para-state’ is operating within the country, controlled by various government entities influenced by politically defeated forces. He emphasized that this structure continues to obstruct the path to justice.

Cardinal Ranjith reaffirmed his hope that those responsible for the attacks would be brought to justice without delay and made a series of direct appeals to the President, outlining the following seven key requests:

1. Presenting the full report pertaining to the Easter Sunday terror attacks to the Parliament and make it public.

2. Establish an independent prosecutor’s office to oversee investigations and prosecutions related to the attacks.

3. Identify all forces behind the attacks, reveal the full truth to the public, and prosecute those responsible regardless of their rank or position.

4. Fully implement the recommendations of the report provided by the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate the attacks dated September 21, 2019.

5. Investigate the alleged ties between the Military Intelligence Unit and alleged terrorist leader Zahran Hashim, and thoroughly examine the claims made in the UK’s Channel 4 program, including statements from key witness Asad Maulana.

6. Enact new laws to dismantle the lawlessness and para-political structures that enabled the conspiracy behind the attacks.

7. Foster a new political culture where those in power serve the people, rather than ruling over them.

The Cardinal strongly criticized the former Attorney General Dappula de Liverra for failing to act on indications of a grand conspiracy behind the bombings, and accused subsequent legal authorities of displaying deference toward those in power while undermining public accountability.

Despite President’s sincere commitment to justice and the appointment of a team of high-ranking officials to lead the effort, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith expressed concern that the prevailing legal framework and the inertia of certain officials have created serious obstacles to progress.

He noted that the public had granted the current government a two-thirds majority in the hope that it would initiate the constitutional and legal reforms necessary to identify and prosecute those responsible for dark chapters in Sri Lanka’s history — including human rights violations, enforced disappearances, ‘white van’ abductions, torture chambers, underworld violence, and the rise of private armed groups.

Cardinal Ranjith emphasized 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.

He further 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 October 6, 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, Mr. 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.’

The European Union (EU) has inquired about a possible moratorium on the invocation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) until it is repealed to be replaced by a new anti-terrorism law, but the government has not yet discussed it, Daily Mirror learns.

The EU, along with other Western powers, has called for the repeal of the PTA which is cited as a draconian piece of legislation.

The representatives of the EU, in their recent meetings with the government, has also inquired about a moratorium.

The repeal of PTA is also a precondition put forward for Sri Lanka to qualify for the GSP plus (+) trade facility when exporting to the markets in the EU region.

The previous government imposed a moratorium on the PTA implementation. It introduced an anti- terrorism bill (ATB) to be enacted. The EU was not happy with that bill either, citing it even more draconian.

The new government has started invoking the provisions of the PTA.

Asked whether the government will consider a moratorium, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said,” The government is yet to discuss it,”

However, he said the PTA will be scrapped and a new law introduced in its place ‘soon’.

Asked whether it is the ATB worked out by the previous government, he replied, “We are yet to name it. A committee is working on it,”

The Secretary to the Public Security Ministry has handed over the report of the Presidential Commission to probe the Easter Sunday bomb attacks to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigations, under the instructions of the President, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said.

Meanwhile, on March 30, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks are being carried out speedily, and that several of those responsible will be exposed before Easter Sunday this year. He made these remarks while addressing the gathering at a public meeting in Deiyandara.

Further commenting on the matter, the President added, “Investigations into the Easter attacks are being carried out systematically. April 21 once again marks the anniversary of the Easter attacks.”

The President also noted, “The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is working to expose a significant group responsible for the attacks before April 21.”

Two days before marking the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks, the Catholic Church has expressed satisfaction with the state of the ongoing investigations.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning yesterday (19), Colombo Archdiocese Communication Director Rev. Father Jude Krishantha said that the authorities had been periodically updating the church on the progress of investigations into the attack.

“We are satisfied with the investigations. They informed us from time to time on how the investigations are progressing,” he said.

He further noted that a number of cases, including the cases of the victims who had filed for compensation, were still ongoing, claiming that there were about 20-25 suspects in custody at the moment.

“Some among those in custody are individuals who possess a lot of information about the attack.”

He expressed that they believe Asad Maulana could be a key to finding out about those who were responsible for the attack.

Maulana, a witness who testified on the attack for a Channel 4 documentary, alleged that there were connections between the intelligence service and local politicians and that these entities were involved in the attack.

“We hope that a lot can be revealed through questioning Asad Maulana who provided information in the Channel 4 documentary,” said Fr. Krishantha.

When asked about the progress of the cases related to the Easter Sunday attacks, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe told The Sunday Morning that the cases were being handled by the Police.

“We are not involved in it. You must speak to the Police,” he said.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Police Media Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that all those who had been arrested in connection with the attacks were either in remand prison or out on conditional bail.

He added that no suspects remained in Police custody at present.

Meanwhile, a senior official at the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs claimed that the investigations were moving ahead. “The investigations are going well. They are making progress,” he told The Sunday Morning.

Fr. Krishantha further stated that the Catholic community, along with many other Sri Lankans, were awaiting justice for the victims of the attack. He said that they were hopeful that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake would make revelations about the attacks and take the investigations forward.

Commemoration events for the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks are planned to be held at the St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade and St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, marking the sixth anniversary of the attacks tomorrow (21).

A plan to hold a military exercise between the navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the strategic waters of Trincomalee was shelved a few weeks back, after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Colombo over the proposed drills, multiple sources have said.

Trincomalee is situated on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast and is considered a significant hub in the Indian Ocean region, especially for India’s maritime security interests.

The sources said the navies of the two countries had planned to carry out the exercise off Trincomalee, in line with their regular engagements.

The plan did not go through after India apprised its apprehensions over the exercise to the Sri Lankan side, they told PTI.

The joint exercise was planned weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo, the sources said.

The navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are known to have cordial relations and warships from both countries visit each other’s ports regularly, besides carrying out wargames.

There was no official word on the plan either from Sri Lanka or Pakistan.

Military experts, explaining Trincomalee’s strategic importance for India, said it has the potential to dominate the Bay of Bengal and much of the northeast Indian Ocean, and New Delhi was right in expressing concerns over the proposed exercise.

The Pakistani Navy operates in close cooperation with China’s PLA Navy and New Delhi has reasons to have concerns over any visit by Pakistani warships to Trincomalee, said one of the experts.

The docking of Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship “Yuan Wang” at the Hambantota port in August 2022 had triggered a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka.

Another Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port in August 2023 had also triggered some concerns in New Delhi.

In the last few years, India has been focusing on extending assistance to Sri Lanka in developing Trincomalee’s energy infrastructure.

India is especially looking at revitalising the oil tank farms in Trincomalee that has one of the finest natural harbours in the world.

During Modi’s visit to Colombo this month, India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) firmed up an ambitious agreement to develop Trincomalee as an “energy hub”, with a broader aim to help the island nation achieve energy security and fuel its economic growth.

Significantly, India and Sri Lanka also signed a defence pact to institutionalise military cooperation following talks between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The agreement on defence cooperation signals a major attempt to boost the India-Sri Lanka defence ties, nearly four decades after the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s intervention in the island nation strained the relations.

India has been expanding its overall strategic ties with Sri Lanka amid concerns over China’s attempts to increase influence over the island nation.

Three years back, India handed over a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka.

The aircraft was given to Sri Lanka from the inventory of the Indian Navy to help the country meet its immediate security requirement.

Source: PTI