President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks will be expedited, and steps will be taken to ensure that such a tragedy will never occur again in the country. He assured that justice will be delivered to the victims.

The President made these remarks during a discussion held today (06) at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, with the families of those killed and injured in the Easter Sunday attack.

President  Dissanayake visited the church during the morning and laid floral tributes at the memorial established in honor of the victims. To mark the occasion, a commemorative gift was also presented to the president.

During the discussion the President met with the families of the victims, who shared their concerns and difficulties with him directly. He highlighted that the Easter Sunday Attack which happened on 21st April 2019 was the most tragic disaster in the recent past and that it will not be allowed to be buried with time.

The President expressed his belief that one of the key factors influencing the people’s decision at the last presidential election was their hope for justice concerning the Easter Sunday attacks.

He emphasized that the aspirations of the citizens align with his own, stating that his goal is to deliver the justice and fairness the people seek in relation to the Easter Sunday attack. He assured that efforts have already begun to achieve this.

The President also stressed the importance of conducting the investigation without any preconceived conclusions or biases. He instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security to ensure that the investigation is  transparent and impartial.

President Dissanayake acknowledged that there is a widespread belief in society that the Easter Sunday attacks may have been carried out to gain political mileage. He stated that if hundreds of innocent lives were sacrificed for political purposes, it would be a profound tragedy. He emphasized that if politics in the country has reached such an extreme, the first priority must be to eliminate this dangerous situation.

The President also highlighted growing suspicions that the government apparatus at the time may have been involved in the attacks. If such allegations are true, he warned, the country would remain in a dangerously unstable and insecure state. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to uncover the truth behind these events.

Additionally, he stressed that justice must be delivered to the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of nearly 274 people and left many others injured, to honor the love and devotion of their families.

He also expressed his deep appreciation for the role played by the priests, who helped prevent an even greater social catastrophe in the aftermath of the attacks. The President extended his gratitude to them once again for their efforts.

The President further stated that if the bonds, trust, and harmony within society are weakened, and people begin to view others with anger and suspicion, it would pose a serious threat to the well-being of the community. In light of this, he emphasized the need for a fair and transparent investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks. He also noted that for the past five years, those who gathered on the streets on April 21 were driven by a hope for justice, which sustained them year after year.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, speaking at the event, shared that despite appealing to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva for justice for the Easter Sunday victims, no resolution has been achieved. He also pointed out that while the government has been working to provide necessary support to the victims, the public continue to seek the truth.

His Eminence Cardinal Ranjith said  that he believes the President will deliver on the promise of justice. He further expressed his belief that the President will take action to hold those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack accountable and ensure justice is served.

Rev.Fr. Manjula Niroshan, the mission in charge of Katuwapitiya Church, along with a large number of Easter attack victims and devotees, attended the event.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura on Saturday (05) afternoon to pay homage and receive blessings.

Upon his arrival at the historic Anuradhapura sacred site, the President first met with the Atamasthanadhipathi, Chief Sanghanayaka of Nuwara Kalaviya, and Chief Administrator of the Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya, Most Venerable Pallekumbura Hemarathana Nayake Thero. During this meeting, the President engaged in a brief discussion, inquiring about the Venerable Thero’s well-being.

Following this, the President proceeded to the Udamaluwa, where he participated in religious observances. At the main Dhamma Hall of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the Chief Prelate of the Atamasthana , along with the Maha Sangha, conducted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings upon the President.

Also present at this religious ceremony were other clergy including the Chief Incumbent of the Lankarama Viharaya Most Venerable Ralapanave Dhammajothi Nayake Thero , the Chief Incumbent of Ruwanweli Chaithyaramaya Venerable Ethalawetunawewa Gnanatilake Thero, the Chief Incumbent of Thuparama Chathyaramaya Venerable Kahalle Gnaninda Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Mirisavetiya Chaithyaramaya Venerable Welihena Sobitha Thero, the Chief Incumbent of Abhayagiri Chathyaramaya Venerable Dr. Kalanchiye Rathanasiri Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Historic Isurumuni Raja Maha Viharya Venerable Matawa Sumangala Thero and the Chief Incumbent of Anuradhapura Sri Sambuddha Jayanti Viharaya Venerable Nugatenne Pangnananda Thero.

During his brief address, the Atamasthanadhipathi Most Venerable Pallekumbura Hemarathana Nayake Thero emphasized that the responsibility of uplifting the lives of the innocent people of this country and protecting the nation, race, and religion now rests on the shoulders of President  Dissanayake.

The Thero also pointed out that, as a leader emerging from the North Central Province (Raja Rata), the President has a special obligation to improve the lives of the people in the region who have long endured hardships. He further added that the Maha Sangha of the Mahavihara bestows their blessings upon the President to fulfill these responsibilities successfully.

The Chief Prelate went on to observe that the current political environment is not conducive to someone with wisdom and insight. However, the Maha Sangha believes that the new President has the ability to foster a healthy political culture in the country.

Venerable Hemarathana Thero also highlighted the importance of establishing a National Policy, stressing that if the President can craft a long-term, beneficial national policy with the support of all Members of Parliament, it would be a significant achievement.

Afterwards, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the Ruwanweliseya, where he received blessings from  Chief Incumbent, Venerable Ethalawetunawewa Gnanatilake Nayaka Thero.

Subsequently, the President participated in religious observances held in front of the Ruwanwelisaya, during which the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith to invoke blessings upon the President.

Governor of the North Central Province Wasantha Jinadasa, District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya, former MP Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Chairman of the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation Susantha Navaratne, and Professor Sena Nanayakkara, along with others, were also present at these events.

ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka’s new president was urged on Friday to deliver on a promise to ensure justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings and to call for the sacking of the country’s spy chief, who is implicated in the worst terror attack against civilians.

The Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), in a six-page appeal to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, sought, among other things, the removal of Suresh Sallay from his position as head of the State Intelligence Service.

The CSR noted that Sallay, a retired military intelligence officer allegedly linked to the Easter bombers, was in a position to destroy evidence and should be removed immediately, with investigations being handed over to a new specialised unit.

The organisation, linked to the Catholic Church, pointed out that Sallay had been accused of involvement with Zahran Hashim, the leader of the suicide squad that targeted three luxury hotels and three churches on April 21, 2019.

For his part, Sallay has lodged a complaint against Britain’s Channel 4 for broadcasting damaging allegations against him, but the UK’s broadcasting authority dismissed the case, ruling that the network had been fair in its reporting.

Sallay has also taken the unusual step for an intelligence officer of suing Catholic priests who repeated the allegations, as well as Yasmin Sooka, a retired South African Chief Justice, for civil defamation.Official sources stated that Sallay attended President Dissanayake’s first National Security Council meeting this week; however, the government has already lined up a replacement for him.

The CSR has also urged the new government to initiate disciplinary action against a number of senior officers, including the now-suspended Inspector General Deshabandu Tennakoon, for negligence and failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite prior warnings.