Colombo, February 10, 2025 – Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, warning that he will hold the current government accountable if it fails to deliver on its promises.
During a discussion held at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith expressed cautious optimism, stating that the government must be given sufficient time to fulfill its pledge of conducting a full and fair investigation into the attacks. However, he made it clear that if justice is not served, he will not hesitate to take action against the new administration, just as he did against former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe, whom he accused of politicizing the attacks and failing to ensure justice for the victims.
The Archbishop recalled that during the last election campaign, the current leadership had promised to formally investigate the attacks and take legal action against all those responsible, whether directly or indirectly. He emphasized that the reinstatement of the CID officers who initially led the investigations has renewed some public confidence in the process, but reaffirmed that he will not relent until justice is fully served.
Highlighting the complexity of the Easter bombings, Cardinal Ranjith asserted that the attacks were not merely the actions of Zaharan Hashim and his followers, but were orchestrated with the backing of powerful forces. He strongly condemned the removal of 21 CID officers involved in the initial investigations and accused a politically appointed senior officer of deliberately destroying crucial evidence.
Referring to former LTTE spokesperson Azad Maulana’s revelations to Channel 4, the Archbishop reiterated that the Easter Sunday attackers had received bomb-making training, financial assistance, security, and other resources from influential figures within the state. He urged the current administration to take responsibility where previous governments had failed, stressing that the families of the victims and the Sri Lankan people expect justice to be served without political interference.
With investigations now resuming under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with renewed oversight, Cardinal Ranjith remains hopeful but resolute, stating that he will not rest until every person behind the attacks—regardless of status or political influence—is held accountable.
