Sri Lanka President to conduct a comprehensive analysis of all open information correlated to the Easter attack
Orders comprehensive analysis of all open information correlated to 2019 Easter attacks. Appoints Committee chaired by retired Supreme Court judge to inquire into allegations made by Britain’s Channel 4 television. Promises Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to address allegations by former Attorney General.
Responding to the revelation made on the Channel 4 TV programme, to seek truth and justice following the tragic Easter Sunday bombings of 2019, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced a significant step by appointing a committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge.
The primary mission of this committee is to investigate the serious allegations brought to light by Channel 4 in a broadcast video.
Nevertheless, President Wickremesinghe acknowledges the need for a deeper probe despite vehement denials of those principally implicated in the disputed disclosures.
“He had shown his willingness that this matter requires further investigation but on the other hand it indicates that President Wickremesinghe will not heed calls for an international investigation.” told some rights activists when they inquired with Asia News about this step of President Wickremesinghe.
But, both Colombo’s Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa have called for an international investigation. The Archbishop said in a three-page statement that “all those officials who are in the police and intelligence services coming under investigation on this matter (the massacres) and who hold positions presently should be suspended forthwith.” The Opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa too made the same call when he spoke in Parliament. He held the view that ‘previous probes had not been adequate’.
In its regular series titled Dispatches aired on September 5, the channel 4 claimed that Sri Lanka’s national intelligence chief was complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday massacres. The killings left 269 men, women and children dead including 45 foreign nationals. Eight among them were British citizens.
According to President’s Media, the allegations have added fuel to the fire, as a former Attorney General has made similar claims, suggesting the existence of a mastermind behind the devastating Easter bomb attack. To address these concerns comprehensively, the government is poised to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee specifically to probe these disturbing assertions.
It said that the gravity of the situation has prompted the President to ensure a thorough review of all available information. As part of this process, the two forthcoming reports will be presented to the Parliament, along with the existing Parliamentary Select Committee report on the Easter bomb attack and the Presidential Commission report on the same tragic event. This comprehensive approach is aimed at providing lawmakers with a comprehensive understanding of the situation, paving the way for well-informed and decisive actions.
“As the nation grapples with the legacy of this tragic event, President Wickremesinghe’s actions represent a determined effort to uncover the truth and ensure accountability in the face of grave allegations. The path to justice for the victims and their families remains at the forefront of the government’s agenda as these critical investigations unfold,” the President’s Media said.
Although the President is ready to take steps to find solutions in Sri Lanka by appointing a PSC in response to the revelation made by the Channel 4 television program, the search for the mastermind of the brutal attack on Easter Sunday cannot be done through a local mechanism” is the opinion of the active groups for the victims of the Easter Sunday attack .
Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith also said in his press briefing held on 6th of September that “We sincerely hope that all those requests will be faithfully carried out by the Hon. President and the government of Sri Lanka. Unless such a transparent and sincere investigation is launched, we do not feel that truth and justice will be meted out to the innocent victims of the 2019 Easter attacks. We urge the President and the government to launch such an investigation urgently so that their credibility with regard to justice for the victims will be safeguarded.”
“We do not believe in mere promises, but we need action and action that is absolutely independent, transparent and internationally monitored.” the Archbishop stressed.
But, In response to the recent allegations made by UK Channel 4 News regarding the 2019 Easter bombings, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the latest program by Channel 4 is primarily an anti-Rajapaksa tirade aimed at blackening the Rajapaksa legacy from 2005 onwards.
Also, the Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence has rejected the allegations raised over the Easter Sunday attacks in a documentary published by Cahnnel 4. “The Defence Ministry reiterated that no terrorists involved in the Easter Sunday attacks have ever been on the Government payroll.”
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