News

JVP levels new charge against government showing its incapability

Published

4 years ago

2021/09/24

By Saman Indrajith

The JVP yesterday alleged that the government was engaged in subterfuge to get its cronies to arouse communal disharmony to cover up its failure to bring to justice those responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said two years and five months had elapsed since the Easter Sunday attack. “The government has not yet taken action against former President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for their failure to prevent the terror attacks. The government still has failed to identify who really masterminded those attacks. The Public Security Minister has come up with his own theory that Naufer Moulavi was the mastermind. People expected that justice would be delivered but that has not been done yet.

“The government has got its cronies to arouse communal disharmony and to attack those who are calling for justice to the victims of Easter Sunday terror attacks. Those middle men while trying to save the government are actually doing their utmost to derail the investigations. When Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith took the lead to prevent communal violence soon after the attacks, he was praised. Those who once praised him today have taken cudgels against him. Now the Cardinal is under malicious attacks and criticism. This is very unfortunate,” MP Herath said.

Responding to a question on internationalizing the issues pertaining to investigations on Easter Sunday attacks, the MP said: When the government failed to deliver justice, Lankans world over internationalize the issue to get the government to act. That was what we saw in Italy and New York. If the government does its duty, there is no need for the victims to seek the international forces involvement in this affair. Lankan expatriates raise this issue in those countries because the government failed to deliver justice and bring those responsible before the law. That is why we demand the government to act without further delay. All it has to do is to deliver what it had promised to get the votes of the people, that is to implement the law against those responsible for the crime,” MP Herath said.

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News

Sixth anniversary of Easter Sunday carnage: Special security provided to churches

Published

26 mins ago

2025/04/20

Thilina Walpola

Police and armed forces personnel will be deployed at all churches today as the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks is marked.Police stations have been instructed to provide special security to churches in their areas and seek assistance from the STF and tri-forces where additional manpower is needed.

Security arrangements have been made under the direction of Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuiyakontha convened a special meeting on Thursday, instructing the Commanders of the Tri-Forces to implement a comprehensive security plan to safeguard worshippers attending Easter Sunday services.

He further directed that the measures be taken in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Security to ensure effective implementation and to allow Christians to attend services without fear or inconvenience.The main commemoration service is set to begin with a procession from St. Lucia’s Cathedral at 7:00 a.m., with participation from Catholics

in nearby parishes—particularly from Colombo Central, Colombo North, Wattala, and Ragama—as well as brothers from junior and national seminaries, priests, and religious leaders. Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is expected to conduct the prayer service, which is scheduled to begin at 8:40 a.m.

A separate commemoration will also take place at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, in two sessions—one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 4:30 p.m.

By Norman Palihawadane

News

Easter Sunday carnage: Catholic Bishops’ Conference renews call for justice

Published

27 mins ago

2025/04/20

Thilina Walpola

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka says that ascertaining who the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 were and those who have aided and abetted in the dastardly act, is a matter of urgency.

In its special message for Easter the conference says: “This Easter also marks the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on innocent worshipers at Catholic and other Christian Churches and in other places in 2019, causing death and injuries to hundreds of people. In this regard, we observe that certain positive steps have been taken by the present government to ensure an independent and impartial inquiry into this brutal attack.

While we appreciate the efforts made so far, we insist that as a matter of urgency and justice, the final aim of the inquiries should be to ascertain who the perpetrators are and those who have aided and abetted in the dastardly act.

We shall continue to pray earnestly for wisdom and courage for the leaders of our country, as well as solace and healing for the victims,” the message signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera and Secretary General Bishop Anthony Jayakody said.