Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has issued a renewed and impassioned appeal for justice on behalf of the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings,
accusing the National People’s Power (NPP) government of turning a blind eye to the truth and perpetuating injustice.
Speaking during a solemn service at the 191st Annual Feast of St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade which was one of the primary sites targeted in the coordinated suicide bombings, the Cardinal lamented the lack of meaningful progress in holding those responsible to account.
The attacks, which shook the nation on 21 April 2019, claimed the lives of over 250 people and injured hundreds more.
He criticised the “haphazard and politicised” investigation, stating that the approach taken by authorities disrespects the memory of the victims and represents an ongoing denial of justice.
Particularly scathing in his remarks was the Cardinal’s disappointment with the current administration led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
He noted that despite public assurances, the Government has failed to establish a long-promised Special Prosecutor’s Office dedicated to the Easter Sunday case, a mechanism widely viewed as essential for ensuring an impartial and focused legal process.
While acknowledging President Dissanayake’s broader efforts to combat corruption, the Cardinal underscored that the unresolved nature of the Easter Sunday investigation remains a profound failure in the state’s responsibility to deliver justice and uphold the rule of law.
The Archbishop also drew attention to alleged attempts by certain elements within the country to derail the investigation.
He referenced an affidavit from a United States Government official that reportedly named several Muslim extremists as the masterminds behind the attacks, details which he insisted should trigger a deeper and more transparent probe, particularly into potential foreign involvement and influence.
Cardinal Ranjith further condemned the failure to act on the over 200 recommendations submitted by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), which was appointed to investigate the bombings.
He noted the lack of follow-up as a betrayal by both past and present leaders, highlighting the absence of any systematic implementation of the Commission’s findings.
The Attorney General’s Department also came under fire, with the Cardinal questioning why legal proceedings have not been initiated against several high-ranking former officials, including a former President, Prime Minister, and senior police and intelligence officers — all of whom were flagged by the PCoI for alleged negligence and failure to prevent the attacks.