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Cardinal: Catholics will hoist black flags seeking justice for victims of Easter carnage
By Norman Palihawadane
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday urged the government to fulfil its responsibility with respect to the investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage and said that until it was done properly, the protest campaign by the Church would not go silent.
“We have no intention of taking to the streets demanding justice, in view of the pandemic. We have asked people to hoist black flags on Saturday (21) to express their displeasure at the investigations” the Cardinal said.
Addressing the media at the Bishop’s House in Colombo, the Cardinal said the Directorate of Intelligence had made contact with the group led by Zahran Hashim, who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks.
“We need to know what dealings took place between ‘Army Mohideen’ and this group. This is mentioned in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry as well,” he said.
The Cardinal also voiced concern over the investigations with regard to the assassination of two police officers in 2019 at Vavuniathivu.
‘There is an intelligence officer who was identified as ‘Sonic’. He had used a personal call sign ‘Matale Zahran’ to make radio contact with a person in Indonesia and urged ISIS to take responsibility for the attacks,’ the prelate told reporters, adding that it could have been an attempt to divert attention away from the real perpetrators.
“It is stated that the State Intelligence Services officer known as ‘Sonic’ had used the person in Matale to get the ISIS to claim responsibility,” the Cardinal said. It clearly meant that a person who masterminded the attacks wanted their tracks covered, said His Eminence.
Further, there were questions over the identity of the Military Intelligence Officer who made contact with ‘Jameel’, the suicide bomber who failed to detonate inside the Taj Samudra Hotel, he added.
He urged the government to fulfil its responsibility and added until it was done properly, the protest campaign would go on.
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Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 29 April 2025, valid for 30 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a four-day state visit to Vietnam on 03 May, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Since the presidential election, President Dissanayake has so far visited India, China and the UAE.
The 5th annual Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue commenced on Monday (April 28) in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
The MoD statement: “The Sri Lankan delegation is led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha accompanied by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Jayantha Edirisinghe. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Lieutenant General (retd.) Muhammad Ali, Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In conjunction with the on-going defence dialogue, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha held a side-line meeting yesterday (April 29) with Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
These high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics and explore opportunities for defence collaboration. Both nations share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation. The dialogue reflects the growing importance of partnerships in maintaining stability and promoting peace in the South Asian region.
The three-day dialogue, which concludes today (April 30), is expected to reinforce bilateral defence ties and contribute to broader regional security objectives.
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