Catholic church in Colombo today said it is still confused by the fresh warnings of impending attacks on churches in the archdiocese despite the apology tendered by the Navy Commander who had claimed it was false.
Member of the communications committee on Easter Sunday Attack Affairs, Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando told a press conference that the church is still confused about how these false warnings came about and who was behind it.
“The Navy Commander spoke to Cardinal Malclom Ranjith after the reports of fresh warnings came and tendered an apology. The Navy informed the Cardinal that the warnings of the fresh attack were false. The Navy Commander has tendered an apology to Cardinal Ranjith but we are confused as to who was behind this warning and why the false warning was made. It was some Naval officers who had gone to churches and warned that fresh attacks would be launched on a few churches by certain men who would come disguised as catholic priests. Can one play around with the country’s security in this manner?” he questioned.
Fr. Fernando said a probe should be carried out in this regard to find out who was behind the false warning and the reason for it. “We wonder whether to keep the churches closed or not,” he said.
Parish Priest Pamunugama Fr. Shantha Sagara Hettiarachchi said some navel ratings had come into his church and informed lay workers in the church about the warnings. “The Weligampitiya, Bopitiya and Wattala Churches have also received warnings,” he said.
Meanwhile Fr. Fernando reinterred the church’s call to uncover the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. “Those who have been found guilty of negligence on the prior warnings of Easter Sunday attacks will have to be dealt with as well,” he said. Also he said the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka had nothing to do with the recent protests held by Sri Lankan expatriates in New York, France and Italy.