News
Easter Sunday carnage: Cardinal accuses political leaders of hiding truth
By Norman Palihawadane
Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday said the politicians who had ruled the country since the Easter Sunday carnage had been party to a conspiracy to hide the truth about the tragedy.
Addressing the media at the Bishop’s House in Colombo, the Cardinal said: “We recall vividly the statement made in earlier times by the former Attorney General that behind these attacks, there was a grand conspiracy. It is clear to us and to many others that the attacks were a plot to gain political power. Even the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed at that time by the Yahapalana government affirmed so in its report.
“It is clear for its future wellbeing, the citizens of this country who are upright and just, need to know that up until now what has happened is that, like it was for the Easter Sunday murders, so also there have been in the recent past many political murders, kidnappings, disappearances as well as setting up of religious and ethnic conflicts and violence in this country ignoring the principles of the rule of law and justice for the sole purpose of obtaining political power or hold on to it with the help of criminal elements who have been protected and sustained by them.
“This corrupt political culture adopts the policy of getting the people in this country to forget all these serious crimes by seeking to bury those in the sands of time and erase them from their memory. Our attempt is to show to these state sponsored criminals that we will not stop our efforts at exposing the truth behind the Easter attacks so that we may expose this evil strategy of theirs and ensure that justice is done.
“It is our belief, that if we let go of this effort it will create a bad precedent for the country.
“This country by now possesses a deeply corrupt political power base and some corrupt officials handling legal matters who manipulate the rules to justify such behaviour which would shield and protect political criminals. And so, in such a set up one could engage in such criminal activities even in the future in order to come to power or hold on to power by rousing up base feelings of racialism and religious bigotry among the people, cause such mass murders like the Easter-Sunday carnage and achieve power.
“That is the background in which there is a strong need to find out the truth behind the Easter attacks and to bring the master minds and criminals behind it to justice. Else some of these criminals who are now free and are enjoying political protection may be tempted to carry out such attacks again in order to obtain power even in the future.
“It is four years now, since the tragic murder of 272 innocent worshippers in Churches and visitors in Hotels on the fateful day, Easter Sunday 2019. Yet it has not been possible for us, up to now, to identify the perpetrators behind these attacks and to bring those responsible to book.
“It is clear that the Presidents as well as the politicians who ruled this country since then, as well as the present President and his government and some corrupt state officials have been and are part of an attempt to hide the truth behind these attacks in order to protect the culprits.
“Hence, we call upon all our citizens, irrespective of their racial or religious differences to unite with us to create a strong human chain, on Friday, 21st April, calling for truth and justice for the Easter attack victims.”
It has been reported quoting police sources that the death toll from the renewed unrest at the Negombo Prison which this morning, has risen from nineteen to twenty five (25).
A clash initially broke out between two groups of inmates (a group of remand prisoners and a group of convicted inmates serving sentences) at the Negombo Prison at around 1.00 p.m. on Sunday (05).
Two inmates died in yesterday’s clash, while around 40 others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at hospital.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the children of Sri Lanka are well capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical ways of thinking, and that the Government is committed to equipping them with the required knowledge and modern technologies necessary to realize their full potential.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the opening of the ’Arumasiya’ Exhibition and the occasion of laying the foundation stone for a new three-storey building at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, on the 4th of July.
During the visit, the Prime Minister officially declared open the exhibition showcasing the students’ innovations and creative talents and commended them for their remarkable achievements. The Prime Minister also participated in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the construction of the College’s new three-storey building.
Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“It is a pleasure to participate in this special event at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, the school where Sri Lanka’s first female Prime Minister received her education
I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition featuring the outstanding creations and innovations of the students. What I witnessed was a group of talented young people who have moved beyond textbook learning and are capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical thinking.
We are introducing a new education reform process that moves away from a rote-learning, examination-oriented system towards a practical and skills-based one. The Government is now systematically completing all the necessary preparations to implement the new education reforms scheduled to commence in 2027.
Our objective is to ensure that every child leaving school has access to vocational and technical education that matches their individual talents and meets the demands of the modern labour market. We are committed to transforming vocational education into a field that enjoys the same dignity and recognition as university education.
Finally, I commend the Principal and the academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College for organizing this exhibition, and to the students and parents whose dedication made this event a success.”
The event was attended by Members of Parliament for Ratnapura District Wasantha Pushpa Kumara and Sunil Rajapaksha, the Mayor of Balangoda and members of the Municipal Council, the Zonal Director of Education, the Principal and academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, parents, and students.
Prime Minister’s Media Division
The appointment of a Special Parliamentary Ombudsman (SPO) to inquire into the complaints against the Attorney General, as promised in the NPP manifesto, is on hold, pending the establishment of an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.
Authoritative sources told The Island that the Justice and National Integration Ministry was awaiting the recommendations, regarding the new legislation for the establishment of such an Office, from a Committee of Technical Experts, chaired by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC.
Responding to a query raised in Parliament by SJB lawmaker Ajith P. Perera about the delay in appointment of SPO, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the government couldn’t take a decision until the Kodagoda Committee made recommendations.
Nanayakkara said that the positioning of the SPO couldn’t be decided before they differentiate the powers of the Attorney General and the an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.
According to the NPP manifesto, provincial Sub Officers were to be established under a senior Additional Solicitor General.
Opposition sources pointed out that the relevant Cabinet decision was taken on 7 May 2025. According to the Cabinet Office, the government decided to establish an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers in line with a proposal made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her final report on Sri Lanka, submitted in September, 2024.
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