News
Arrest of ex-Prez over Easter bombing remarks sought
(UCAN) Catholic officials and parliamentarians have called for the arrest and interrogation of former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena over his controversial statement regarding the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
The call came after Sirisena told the media, on March 22, that he was ready to testify in court to reveal confidential information about the masterminds behind the deadly terror attack on churches and hotels that left 269 dead, including foreigners, and hundreds injured.
Sirisena said he seeks protection and promises of confidentiality from the Court as the public disclosure of the sensitive information could harm him and his family.
Those arrested and detained in the case were the persons he had named earlier, and he could reveal to the judiciary the real culprits who orchestrated the attacks, he said.
The next day Sirisena clarified further that he came to know about the real culprits just three weeks ago and he had decided to provide a close door testimony to the court, considering the sensitivity of the issue.
“If the Court summoned me, I’ll appear and testify under the confidential agreement. The reason for this arrangement is that I fear the safety of not only myself and my children but also other family members if I were to testify in an open court,” Sirisena said.
The ex-President should be immediately arrested and questioned because “concealing criminal information is a crime,” said Oblate priest Father Rohan Silva, who recently filed a complaint over the Easter attack with the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC).
“He should be arrested immediately. If an ordinary person had made such a serious statement, they would have been arrested and interrogated by the police already,” said Silva, a member of the National Catholic Committee for Justice to Easter Sunday Attack Victims.
On behalf of the Sri Lankan Catholic Church, the priest obtained the report from the Malalgoda Committee, a state-appointed body that investigated the Easter Sunday bombings.
“We request the President and the Minister of the police and the CID [Criminal Investigation Department] to immediately arrest the former President and begin interrogation and take necessary legal action against him,” he added.
Catholic lawmaker Kawinda Jayawardena filed a complaint with the CID, accusing Sirisena of concealing vital information related to the attack for nearly five years.
He slammed Sirisena for failing to disclose the information despite appearing before the government commission many times.
There must be a “full-scale investigation” over his fresh claims, Jayawardena told journalists.
Former Cabinet Minister and current lawmaker Vijitha Herath also echoed similar sentiments.
The attack became a turning point in the island nation’s politics because of the state’s failure, so the ex-President must be held responsible, he said.
“After not revealing anything about it for so long, he now claims to know who carried out the attack. It is a serious matter that he is concealing this incident, which caused such a tragedy, as the Commander-in-Chief,” he told the media on March 24.
Deshbandu Tennakoon, Inspector General of Police, said that Sirisena made the remarks as the CID asked him to show up for a statement.
Nine suicide bombers, allegedly linked with a local extremist outfit, National Thowheed Jamath, targeted three Churches and three luxury hotels on April 21, 2019.
Successive governments carried out investigations into the attack. The Catholic Church rejected the state reports for failing to identify the masterminds behind the violence.
Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, and human rights groups, have accused the governments of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and current President Ranil Wickremesinghe of exploiting the tragedy for political gains.
They have also called for an impartial international probe into the bombings and justice for the victims.
Earlier, a Court ordered former President Sirisena to pay 100 million rupees (US$329,790) as compensation to victims of the Easter carnage.
He has so far paid 15 million rupees only and requested the Court to allow him to pay the remainder amount by 2033.
Father Cyril Gamini, spokesman for Cardinal Ranjith told the UCA News that the legal team at the Church is carefully studying the former President’s claims.
Latest News
Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
News
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.
Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.
Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.
This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”
The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.
The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
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