Sri Lankans preparing to Commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Easter Sunday tragedy

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the brutal massacre of 03 Christian churches, 02 hotels, and a guest house led by suicide bombers on the 21st of April, 2019, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has organized various religious programs from this evening to tomorrow and is preparing to name the devotees who sacrificed their lives in the three churches as martyrs.

The Easter Tragedy, which commemorates its fifth year, included two Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Colombo – Kochchikade and Katuwapitiya, Zion church in Batticaloa in the Eastern province, and three high-end hotels and one guest house in Colombo.

According to the newly launched (19th April 2024) report “5 Years Since Easter Sunday Attacks: Still awaiting justice” by the research group of the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) around 315 people, including about 40 foreigners and 45 children, were reported to have been killed, making it the biggest post-civil war massacre in Sri Lanka. This new report reveals several new findings on Unfulfilled to victims based on “political, Social-Cultural, Economic and Legal Perspectives”. English- https://easterattack.info/…/5-Years-Since-Easter…

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith speaking at the press conference held at the Archbishop’s House on April 17th, said that the Catholic Church has no trust in the government’s investigations into the 2019 Easter bombings and the Church has faith in God’s intervention for justice for the victims of the Easter attack.

“Up to now, those in power – both ruling and opposition, have not done anything substantial to discover what was behind these attacks. So we have lost our trust in the system,” said Cardinal Ranjith.

Cardinal Ranjith noted that the government failed to investigate allegations in a 2023 British television documentary that linked the Easter Sunday bombers to a top intelligence officer in the current administration.

“So, we are now going to appeal to the Lord for justice for our people.”

Accordingly, at 4.00 p.m. after the Holy mass, a prayerful procession has been organized today, April 20th from Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Shrine to Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian Church. This procession will walk through the Colombo-Negombo main road throughout the night and will reach the Katuwapitiya Church in the morning on Sunday, 21st April.

Apostolate Nuncio, UN resident representative in Sri Lanka, and religious leaders including Buddhist monks together with Cardinal Ranjith are expected to speak at the commemoration which will be held at the Kochchikade Shrine Tomorrow morning.

Also, another two commemoration programs have been organized at Negombo and Katuwapitiya Tomorrow, on Sunday evening.

One is that the Catholic Church has organized a procession from Maris Stella College Negombo to Katuwapitiya Church with the participation of the Catholic Clergy.

With the participation of Catholic Priests, Nuns, and lay people, another procession carrying the photographs of the deceased persons has been organized from Maristella College, Negombo to Katuwapitiya Church on Sunday afternoon. Cardinal Ranjith said that all the bishops will also participate in this walk.

After that march, in the short prayer service conducted at the Katuwapitiya Shrine, the process of declaring “Easter Sunday victims” as “martyrs” will begin on Sunday, April 21 2024 when the country commemorates the fifth anniversary of the mayhem.

“All names of those who perished in the explosions at the Katuwapitiya church, Kochchikade church, and the Zion church will be handed over to Apostolate Nuncio during the commemoration programs which are to be held on Sunday”.

“According to the Catholic tradition, the victims will be initially declared as ‘heroes of faith’ which is the first step towards declaring someone as a martyr. These victims can be called martyrs as they went to church on that fateful day because of their faith,” Cardinal Ranjith added.

Meanwhile, a campaign and several pressure actions organized by the “Easter Justice Struggle People’s Collective” consisting of 32 different organizations to seek justice for the Easter victims will be implemented tomorrow at 2.00 pm onwards at the main Negombo Baaldi Junction, which leads to the Katuwapitiya Church.

Among these activities, paying tribute to the deceased victims, performing a drama demanding justice, signing a public petition asking the government, IMF, and UN to come act for justice, and displaying posters and slogans to show the protest to the delayed justice, said one of Organizers Thilina Alahakoon to Mojo News.

Also, a protest and prayer service entitled “05 years to the Easter attack without justice” organized by the “Kandy Christian Council Union” will be held in Kandy Tomorrow, April 21.

At  03.30 pm the procession will start from Kandy Good Shepherd Convent School and will walk to Torrington. A protest and prayer service will be held in front of George E de Silva Park (Torrington). Organizers request to bring a protest sign and a candle.

END.