Negombo residents engage in black flag protest over delayed Easter Sunday justice

Reports circulating on social media suggest that the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities of the Negombo area are holding a joint protest over the Easter Sunday attacks.

Protesters have demanded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to respond to the letter sent by Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church and deliver justice to the victims by revealing the mastermind behind the attacks.

Earlier, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith announced that all residences, shopping malls, workplaces, offices and vehicles of Catholics in Sri Lanka shall hoist the black flag on 21st of August 2021 in protest of the Government’s alleged attempts to suppress dissent, silence minorities and politically sabotage the process of democracy.

He also called on people of all faiths to join hands and protest against what he refers to as the undemocratic style of governance by the incumbent government.

Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid and the Secretary General of ACMC, S.Subairdeen, announced today that the ACMC would extend its fullest support to the black flag protest on 21st of August 2021 proposed by the Arch-Bishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

Shahied and Subairdeen claimed that the Muslim Community stands in solidarity with the Catholic community, and stands with them in their call for justice for the Easter Attacks and against undue delay in delivering justice and politically hindering the process of investigation.