Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has claimed that the efforts by Sri Lanka’s previous political leadership to suppress the truth about the Easter Sunday attacks continue to persist within certain government institutions.
The Cardinal made these remarks during the main memorial service held at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, commemorating those who lost their lives in the devastating terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday.
He further stated that a “para-state” controlled by defeated political forces is still operating within various government institutions, hindering transparency and justice.
Cardinal Ranjith expressed his strong desire for swift justice for the victims of the Easter attacks and made several specific requests to President Ranil Wickremesinghe:
- Present the full report regarding the Easter Sunday attacks to Parliament and release it publicly.
- Establish an independent prosecution unit dedicated to overseeing further investigations and legal actions concerning the attacks.
- Uncover all entities behind the Easter attacks, disclose the full truth to the nation, and prosecute those responsible, irrespective of their status or position.
- Fully implement all recommendations outlined in the Presidential Commission Report dated September 21, 2019.
- Conduct a comprehensive inquiry into allegations involving the Military Intelligence Unit’s relationship with terrorist leader Saharan Hashim, as well as the information revealed in Channel 4’s program aired in England, and thoroughly investigate the testimony provided by key witness Asad Maulana.
- Enact necessary legislation to dismantle the culture of lawlessness that facilitated secret conspiracies leading to the Easter attacks, as well as the para-state structures supporting them.
- Guide Sri Lanka toward establishing a new political culture, where elected representatives act as true servants of the people rather than as rulers.
Cardinal Ranjith criticized former Attorney General Dappula de Livera for dismissing evidence suggesting a broader conspiracy behind the attacks. He also accused subsequent officials in the Attorney General’s Department of demonstrating inertia and complacency, influenced by a powerful para-state structure, thereby undermining the legal proceedings related to the attacks and showing undue leniency toward the ruling political elite.
Acknowledging President Wickremesinghe’s recent initiatives to address this matter by appointing high-ranking officials, Cardinal Ranjith nonetheless expressed concern over bureaucratic delays and obstacles hindering effective progress. He highlighted that despite the current government holding a two-thirds parliamentary majority granted by the public to enact necessary constitutional and legal reforms, the nation continues to suffer from politically motivated violence.
The Cardinal stressed that Sri Lanka’s history has been tarnished by incidents involving political violence, disappearances, extrajudicial killings (“white vans”), torture, underworld operations, and the existence of private armed groups. He expressed hope that all individuals responsible for these crimes would soon be identified and prosecuted.
Describing the Easter Sunday attacks as another tragic chapter in Sri Lanka’s painful history, Cardinal Ranjith emphasized the need for stronger laws to ensure justice. He urged President Wickremesinghe to demonstrate courage in reforming inadequate legislation to cleanse society from anti-democratic activities and politically driven terrorism.
He concluded by recalling the President’s assurance made on October 6, 2024, in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, urging him to ensure that the innocent lives lost in the Easter Sunday tragedy are honored by fully uncovering the truth and holding every perpetrator accountable.
