Intl help to probe Easter terror unnecessary: Cardinal

By Norman Palihawadane

Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith says that there is no need to seek international assistance to probe the Easter Sunday attacks anew and all what needed was to depoliticize the local investigation process. Delivering the homily at the Festive High Mass of the 75th Jubilee Celebration of St Theresa’s Church, Batapaththalala, Kandawala in Katana last week, the Cardinal said: “We do not need the help of the international police to find the hidden truth about who was behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The police and investigative officers of this country have the strength and capacity for that purpose. What is required is to give them complete freedom and support without political influence to carry out their work.” The Archbishop said that maintaining justice and equity in our society has now turned out to be a challenge. “It is not democracy to mislead people, to cause them trouble and to make their lives miserable. The country is now under an unfair and unjust rule. The rulers themselves are suppressing the truth from the people. They promote lies to suit their political agenda and to cling on to power,” he said.

“While people are hungry, sad and suffering from pain, the leaders are only interested on how to consolidate power with callous disregard to the plight of the people. The rulers pass the day blaming each other. This is a very unfortunate situation.”

The Vespers Service of the jubilee was presided over by Rt Rev Dr Maxwell Silva, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo. The 75th jubilee celebrations had been organized under the guidance of Rev Fr Srikantha Fernando, Parish Priest Kandawala and Rev. Fr Gihan Priyashantha Peiris with the support of the Parish Council.