News
The Easter attacks and the struggles for justice in Lanka
By Ruki Fernando
(UCAN)April 21 this year will mark five years since the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. The targets included two Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Colombo, Zion church in the Eastern province, and three high-end hotels in Colombo.
Around 315 people, including about 40 foreigners and 45 children, were reported to have been killed, making it the biggest post-civil war massacre in Sri Lanka.
The damaged churches and hotels were quickly rebuilt. However, many survivors and families of victims still need medical, emotional, and financial support. Their tears, grief, and pain indicate their lives are far from being rebuilt.
The attacks were by Islamic militants and the aftermath of the attacks saw at least one Muslim man being killed and many Muslim shops and houses destroyed and damaged. Many Muslims were detained unjustly for months and years after the attacks, including women with children.
Among the cases that drew national and international attention was of young Muslim poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem, whose poetry had stinging critiques of Muslims responsible for the attacks and moving expressions of solidarity with survivors and victims’ families.
Another was of Muslim lawyer and activist Hejaaz Hizbullah, who had also publicly condemned the Easter attacks.
Asylum seekers and refugees from countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan who had come here seeking temporary refuge due to persecution in their countries were perceived as Muslims and evicted, re-displaced, and became homeless days after the attacks.
Justice for the Easter attacks must also include justice for them and other forgotten and often ignored victims.
For five years, the Sri Lankan criminal justice system, including investigators, prosecutors, and the judiciary, has not been able to hold those responsible for the attacks accountable. The former secretary to the Ministry of Defense and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) were acquitted in cases filed against them without evidence being called from the defense.
Other criminal cases filed by the attorney-general are still ongoing. Fundamental rights cases filed by some concerned citizens led to the Supreme Court holding the former president and senior officials responsible for not preventing the attacks and ordering them to pay compensation.
The amounts were small compared to previous amounts awarded by the Supreme Court to torture victims and there was no directive to hold anyone criminally responsible.
Fifteen months later, the full amounts ordered by the Supreme Court are yet to be paid. The court had ruled to remove the then-prime minister and current president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, from the case before the judgment, citing presidential immunity.
The Supreme Court had recommended disciplinary action for negligence against Nilantha Jayawardana, the former director of the State Intelligence Services (SIS), but this is yet to happen.
There is no response to the April 2022 police complaint and the May 2022 letter to the police chief demanding his arrest.
A private complaint filed in September 2022 against former president Maithripala Sirisena in the Fort Magistrate Court, alleging that he had failed to discharge his duties as the defense minister is still pending.
Deshabandu Tennakoon, a deputy IGP at that time, was found to have been negligent in preventing the attacks by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry. But instead of holding him accountable, he has been appointed the police chief.
The former attorney-general who initially oversaw investigations had told the media in May 2021 that there was a “grand conspiracy” concerning the Easter attacks.
In March 2022, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Catholic archbishop of Colombo, told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva that the investigations indicate the massacre was part of a grand political plot.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an independent and transparent investigation with international assistance.
A case filed in the United States against three suspects concerning the attacks on charges linked to supporting ISIS remains suspended. As far as I know, no other country has initiated criminal prosecutions although it is the largest massacre of foreign nationals in Sri Lanka during or after the war.
Those seeking truth and justice have faced reprisals.
Last year, police in Negombo tried to stop a protest march and rally demanding justice by seeking a court order, which the acting magistrate refused.
On Easter Sunday last year, police banned the use of banners, black flags, and loudspeakers during a vehicle parade from St. Nicholas Church in Bopitiya to St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya (the church most affected by the attacks) demanding truth and justice.
A media report accused three prominent Catholic priests advocating for truth and justice of conspiring against the Catholic archbishop of Colombo.
Shehan Malaka, an outspoken youth activist who publicly made an allegation of political conspiracy, was arrested and although he was released on bail, a case has been filed against him in the Colombo High Court.
Before the Easter attacks, many churches in war-ravaged Jaffna and Mannar Catholic dioceses had been attacked by the armed forces such as Navaly, Gurunagar, Allaipiddy and Pesalei, killing and injuring hundreds of Tamil civilians.
There has been no criminal accountability and adequate compensation for these and many other serious crimes during the three-decade-long war, including the tens of thousands of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances.
Amongst the victims are Tamil Catholic priests, such as Father Mary Bastian alleged to have been killed by the army in 1985, Father Jim Brown who disappeared after being last seen at a checkpoint entering a navy-controlled area in 2006, and Father Francis Joseph, who disappeared alongside many others after being seen surrendering to the army at the end of the war in 2009.
During the war, mosques and Buddhist temples were also attacked by the LTTE, leading to hundreds of deaths.
Since the war, Evangelical Christians and people of Islamic and Hindu faiths have also faced persecution in Sri Lanka and there is rarely any accountability.
In the 11 Sundays preceding Easter Sunday in 2019, there were disruptions at Christian church services and at least 13 churches were affected in nine districts. About 35 incidents and about 70 violations against Christians were reported in 2019 before the Easter Sunday attacks.
There are two key challenges in pursuing justice in Sri Lanka. One is to have holistic justice, and the other is to forge a united front in the struggle for justice, both domestically and internationally.
Holistic justice should include truth-seeking and criminal accountability, especially regarding the masterminds. Both are crucial to prevent future such incidents. Justice must also include long-term and adequate reparations, ensuring rights to mental and physical healthcare, education, livelihood, etc., including compensation.
Successive governments and the international community have failed on both fronts. Advocacy of Church leaders and civil society has focused on truth and criminal accountability and less on reparations, despite many survivors and victim families being desperate for them.
The other challenge for Sri Lankans, including the Catholic Church, is to join hands to pursue justice for all survivors and families of victims beyond ethnic, religious, geographical, and other divides.
Advocacy for justice by Tamils has mostly focused on wartime atrocities, and the Sinhalese largely focused on the Easter attacks, economic crimes, and the rule of law.
Around 2012, Cardinal Ranjith opposed international involvement at a time when the then-Catholic bishop of Mannar and Tamil Catholic clergy and others were demanding international involvement in seeking justice for tens of thousands of killings, disappearances, and other crimes during and after the war.
He was quoted as saying, “Such efforts are an insult to the intelligence of the people of Sri Lanka.” But in the last two years, the cardinal has been at the forefront of demanding international involvement in seeking justice for the Easter attacks.
It is now five years since the Easter attacks, 15 years since the end of the war, and two years since the economic crisis prompted massive people protests that ended the corrupt, authoritarian and racist Rajapaksha family’s rule in Sri Lanka.
Presidential and parliamentary elections are due this year and next year, and long overdue local and provincial elections may also be held soon.
A crucial UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva later this year will consider renewing a Sri Lankan accountability project that focuses on evidence gathering.It is time to forge stronger and more united struggles for holistic justice for all Sri Lankans.
SJB trying to take control of CMC
Govt. suffers set back in N&E
SLPP records significant increase in votes but fails to win single body
The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) secured 266 out of 339 local government bodies at the May 6 election but suffered a setback in the northern and eastern regions as the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won 42 local authorities.
The ITAK and SLMC secured 37 and 05 local government bodies, respectively, although President Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally led the NPP’s campaign in the former war zone. The National Congress won the Akkaraipattu MC. In the last parliamentary election held in Nov. 2014, the NPP won all electoral districts, except Batticaloa.
The NPP obtained 4,503,930 votes countrywide whereas in the last parliamentary election it received 6,863,186 votes; there has been a drop of 2,359,256 votes.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) won 13 local government bodies, but the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) failed to secure any.
The SLPP obtained 954,517 votes and 742 seats, accounting for 9.17% of the national vote. In a post on X, SLPP’s National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa said: “Over the past six months, the SLPP has regrouped and gained momentum by staying true to our principles. While some rely on false promises, we remain committed to honest, principled politics that put the people first. Thank you to everyone who stood by us. This is just the beginning. We will keep working, village by village, to rebuild and restore trust in real leadership.” The SLPP polled only 350,429 votes in last year’s general election.
In the 2018 LG polls, the SLPP won 231 councils. That was the first time the government of the day failed to win mini polls. Yahapalana partners, UNP and SLFP, having contested separately, suffered a debilitating setback.
In spite of the massive campaign carried out by the NPP, targeting the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), the ruling party failed to secure an overall majority there. The NPP polled 81,000 votes to obtain 48 seats whereas the SJB and UNP polled 58,375 (29 seats) and 26,297 (13 seats) votes, respectively. The SLPP (05), SLMC (04), United Republican Front (01), United Peace Alliance (02), Sarvajana Balaya (02), and National People’s Party, National Freedom Front, People’s
Alliance and Democratic National Alliance one each.
In addition to political parties, five Independent Groups shared the remaining 09 seats of the CMC.
With no party holding a clear majority, the next Colombo Mayor will need to be elected through a Council vote.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told a hastily arranged media conference that the SJB intended to elect an SJBer as Colombo Mayor with the help of the other Opposition parties. The former Minister said that the SJB would cooperate with the other parties in the Opposition regarding the appointment of Mayors and Chairmen of the hung local councils.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake, has said those who won local government bodies in the Northern Province but without absolute majorities have sought NPP support to form administrations.
Addressing a separate media briefing, JVP General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, declared that the ruling party wouldn’t, under any circumstances, form coalitions with those who had been rejected by the people.
Colombo District
NPP:
Colombo MC, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia MC, Sri Jayewardenepura MC, Moratuwa MC, Kaduwela MC, Kolonnawa UC, Seethawakapura UC, Maharagama UC, Kesbewa UC, Boralesgamuwa UC, Kotikawatte PS, Seethawaka PS and Homagama PS.
Gampaha District
NPP:
Negombo MC. Gampaha MC, Wattala-Mabola UC (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Katunayaka-Seeduwa UC, Minuwangoda UC, Ja-ela UC, Peliyagoda UC, Wattala PS, Katana PS, Divulapitiya PS, Mirigama PS, Minuwangoda PS, Attanagalle PS, Gampaha PS, Mahara PS, Dompe PS, Biyagama PS and Kelaniya PS.
Kalutara District
NPP:
Panadura UC, Horana UC, Kalutara MC, Panadura PS, Bandaragama PS, Horana PS, Madurawala PS, Bulathsinhala PS, Matugama PS, Dodangoda PS, Kalutara PS, Beruwala PS, Agalawatta PS (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Millaniya PS and Walallawita PS
Kandy District
NPP:
Kandy MC, Wattegama UC, Kadugannawa UC, Nawalapitiya UC, Thumpane PS, Harispattuwa PS, Poojapitiya PS, Pathadumbara PS, Udadumbara PS (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Minipe PS, Medadumbara PS, Kundasale PS, Pathahewaheta PS, Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawatta Korale PS, Yatinuwara PS, Udunuwara PS, Udapalatha PS, Ganga Ihala Korale PS and Pasbage Korale PS.
Matale District
NPP:
Dambulla MC, Matale MC, Pallepola PS, Galewela PS, Dambulla PS, Naula PS, Laggala-Pallegama PS (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Wilgamuwa PS, Matale PS, Yatawatta PS, Ukuwela PS, Rattota PS.
Nuwara Eliya District
NPP
Nuwara Eliya MC, Hatton-Dikoya UC, Thalawakale-Lindula UC, Maskeliya PS, Norwood PS (NPP and Ceylon Workers’ Congress ‘P’ wing won six seats each), Ambagamuwa PS, Agarapathana PS (NPP and Ceylon Workers’ Congress ‘P’ wing won four seats each), Kotagala PS ((NPP and Ceylon Workers’ Congress ‘P’ wing won five seats each), Nuwara Eliya PS, Kothmale PS, Hanguranketha PS and Walapone PS.
Galle District
NPP:
Galle MC, Ambalangoda UC, Hikkaduwa UC, Balapitiya PS, Ambalangoda PS, Welivitiya Divithura PS, Karandeniya PS, Bentota PS, Neluwa PS, Thawalama PS, Nagoda PS, Niyagama PS, Baddegama PS, Yakkalamulla PS, Rajagama PS, Akmeemana PS, Bope Poddala PS, Imaduwa PS and Habaraduwa PS.
Matara District
NPP:
Matara MC, Weligama UC, Pitabeddara PS, Kotapola PS, Kirinda Puhulwella PS, Mulatiyana PS, Pasgoda PS, Athureliya PS, Akuressa PS, Malimbada PS, Hakmana PS, Kamburupitiya PS, Thihagoda PS, Devinuwara PS, Dikwella PS, Matara PS and Weligama PS.
Hambantota District
NPP:
Hambantota MC, Tangalle UC, Weeraketiya PS, Katuwana PS, Beliatta PS, Tangalle PS, Angunakolapelessa PS, Ambalantota PS, Tissamaharama PS, Sooriyawewa PS, Hambantota PS and Lunugamwehera PS.
Jaffna District
ITAK:
Jaffna MC, Chavakachcheri UC (ITAK and ACTC won six seats each), Delft PS, Velanai PS, Walikamam west PS, Walikamam north PS, Walikamam south-west PS, Walikamam south PS, Walikamam east PS, Vadamaratchchy South West PS, PPD PS, Chavakachcheri PS and Nallur PS.
ACTC
VVT UC, PPD UC, Karainagar PS ( ACTC, UNP, NPP , TMK and Ind group ii won two seats each), Kayts PS (EPDP),
Kilinochchi District
ITAK:
Pachchilaippalli PS, Karachchi PS and Poonakary PS
Mannar District
ITAK:
Mannar UC, Mannar PS, Manthai West
NPP:
Nanattan PS
SJB:
Musali PS
Vavuniya District
Vavuniya MC (DTNA, NPP and Sri Lanka Labour Party won four seats each)
NPP:
Vavuniya north PS, Vavuniya south (Tamil) PS and Vavuniya South (Sinhala) PS
SJB:
Vengalasettikulam PS
Mullaitivu District
ITAK:
Manthai East PS, Thunukai PS
ITAK:
Puthukudirippu PS and Maritimepattu PS
SJB:
Kalutara District
Palindanuwara PS
Kandy district
SJB:
Gampola UC
Akurana PS
Panwila PS
Matale
Ambanganga Korale PS
Kalutara District
Ind. Group 1 Beruwela UC
Batticaloa district
ITAK:
Batticaloa MC, Eravurpattu PS, Koralaipattu PS, Manmunai South and Eluvil Pattu, Manmunai Pattu PS, Manmunai West and Porathivu Pattu PS.
SLMC:
Eravur UC, Kathankudi UC,
TMVP:
Koralai Pattu North, Manmunai South West PS (ITAK and TMVP won six seats each)
Ampara district
National Congress:
Akkaraipattu MC, Akkaraipattu PS
NPP:
Ampara UC, Dehiattakandiya PS, Damana PS, Uhana PS, Mahaoya PS, Namaloya PS, Padiyatalawa PS, Lahugala PS,
ITAK:
Navithanveli PS, Alayadiwembu (ITAK and NPP won seven seats each), Karaitheevu PS
ACMC:
Sammanthurai PS, Ninthavur PS
SLMC:
Irakkamam PS, Addalachenai PS,
Independent Group 4
Pottuvil PS
Independent Group 1
Thirukkovil PS
Trincomalee District
ITAK:
Trincomalee MC, Verugal PS, Trincomalee town and Gravets PS, Muttur PS,
ACMC:
Kinniya UC (SJB and ACMC won four seats each) and Kinniya PS
NPP:
Seruwila PS, Kantale PS, Morawewa PS, Gomarankadawela PS, Padavisripura PS, Thambalagamuwa PS (NPP and SJB won three seats each)
SLMC:
Kuchchuveli PS,
Kurunegala District
NPP:
Kurunegala MC, Kuliyapitiya UC, Giribawa PS, Galgamuwa PS, Polpithigama PS, Nikaweratiya PS, Kobeigane PS, Mahawewa PS, Ibbagamuwa PS, Wariyapola PS,Panduwasnuwara PS, Bingiriya PS, Udubaddawa PS, Pannala PS, Kuliyapitiya PS, Alawwa PS, Narammala PS, Polgahawela PS, Kurunegala PS, Mawathagama PS and Rideegama PS.
Puttalam District
NPP:
Puttalam MC, Chilaw UC, Kalpitiya PS (NPP and SJB won 10 seats each), Puttalam PS, Wanathawilluwa PS, Karuwalagaswewa PS,Nawagaththegama PS, Anamaduwa PS, Arachchikattuwa PS, Chilaw PS, Nattandiya PS and Wennappuwa PS.
Anuradhapura District
NPP:
Anuradhapura MC, Medawachchiya PS, Rambawewa PS, Kebitigollewa PS, Padaviya, Kahatagasdigiliya PS, Horowpothana PS, Galenbindunuwewa PS, Thalawa PS, Nuwaragampalatha Central PS, Nuwaragampalatha east PS, Nochchiyagama PS, Rajanganaya PS, Galnewa PS, Ipologama PA, Mihintale PS, Thirappane PS, Kekirawa PS and Palagala PS.
Polonnaruwa District
NPP:
Polonnaruwa MC. Elahera PS, Hingurakgoda PS, Medirigiriya PS, Lankapura PS, Welikanda PS, Dimbulagala PS and Polonnaruwa PS.
Badulla District
NPP:
Badulla MC, Bandarawela MC, Mahiyanganaya PS, Ridimaliyadde PS, Soranthota PS,Meegahakivula PS, Kankaketiya PS, Passara PS, Lunugala PS, Badulla PS, Hali ela PS, Uva Paranagama PS, Welimada PS, Bandarawela PS, Ellpa PS,Haputale PS and Haldamulla PS.
Independent Group:
Haputale UC
Moneragala District
NPP:
Bibile PS, Medagama PS, Madulla PS, Siyambalanduwa PS, Monaragala PS, Badalkumbura PS, Buttala PS, Kataragama PS, Wellawaya PS and Thanamalwila PS
NPP also won all LG authorities in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts.
Fifteen Lankans, forcibly held in cybercrime camps in Myanmar, had been rescued on Tuesday (06), government sources said.
This operation was carried out through coordination between the Sri Lankan Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, along with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand and the Thai government.
The rescued Sri Lankan youth were handed over to the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, by Thai authorities on Tuesday morning in Mae Sot, located in the Myawaddy region, along the Myanmar-Thailand border. Officials from the Thai Embassy also attended the handover.
This rescue was the result of diplomatic efforts and telephone discussions held by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, with Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maris Sangiampongsa, and Myanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe.
The rescue operation was supported diplomatically by the Thai Embassy, the International Organisation for Migration (which provided transportation), non-governmental organisations offering welfare assistance, and officials of the Thai and Myanmar governments.
Minister Vijitha Herath expressed appreciation for their roles.
Previously, 14 Sri Lankans were rescued from cybercrime camps in Myanmar on March 18, and 27 others were brought back to Sri Lanka on Dec. 17, 2024.
By Shyam Nuwan Ganewatte
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